Decision Helps Avoid Raising Costs for U.S. Food Manufacturers and Consumers Facing Already High Sugar Prices
Washington, D.C. (July 24, 2026) — The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) today welcomed the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to exempt sugar imported under the World Trade Organization (WTO) raw and refined sugar tariff-rate quotas from the new tariffs imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
The United States is a net importer of sugar, consuming approximately 12 million short tons annually while producing approximately 9 million short tons domestically. Imports are therefore an essential part of the U.S. sugar supply, and exempting sugar entering under these WTO quotas from the Section 301 tariffs will help avoid raising costs for American food manufacturers and consumers already facing high sugar prices.
“We appreciate USTR’s recognition that sugar imports are essential to meeting domestic demand,” said SUA President Rick Pasco. “Exempting sugar entering under the WTO raw and refined sugar quotas from these new tariffs will help ensure a more reliable sugar supply without adding unnecessary costs for American food manufacturers and consumers.”
SUA looks forward to continuing to work with USTR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that American food manufacturers have reliable access to sugar when domestic production falls short of demand. To further support that goal, SUA encourages both agencies to implement the Government Accountability Office’s 2023 recommendations for improving how raw sugar import quotas are allocated and reallocated and to carry out the sugar reallocation requirements enacted by Congress through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Media Contact:
Anna Miller
amiller@fratelli.com
