Bipartisan legislation to reform the controversial U.S. sugar program was introduced on Nov. 7, prompting quick responses from sugar users and producers. … The Sweetener Users Association (S.U.A.) said the legislation “leaves in place smart protections to ensure the sugar market operates freely without unnecessary government intrusion,” and that such reform was long overdue. “The…
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday introduced legislation in the House and Senate that would overhaul the U.S. sugar program. … Supporters of the overhaul argue that the existing sugar program hurts businesses that use sugar as an ingredient in their products while protecting a small group of well-connected sugar producers. … “It will…
With the first round of negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) beginning today in Washington, America’s sweetener users urged negotiators to expand, not further restrict, trade in sugar. “On behalf of America’s food and beverage companies that use sugar in the products they make and the more than 600,000 Americans they…
A story breaking this week from Bloomberg Politics details the political influence of the most powerful family in the sugar industry, the Fanjuls. The report focuses on the family’s massive wealth, formed on the backs of hardworking taxpayers, and how they have used that wealth to curry favor to insulate the U.S. sugar program from much needed reform.…
The companies that make America’s cookies, cakes, doughnuts, bread and candy are running out of sugar for their products. That’s why Rick Pasco, president of the Sweetener Users Association, was at USDA headquarters in Washington last week. The message he took to USDA officials: Allow more sugar imports from countries that have plenty to sell…
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross commented: “We have gotten the Mexican side to agree to nearly every request made by U.S. industry to address flaws in the current system and ensure fair treatment of American sugar growers and refiners.” But according to the Sweetener Users Association: “Even tighter controls on the total volume of sugar in…
The Coalition for Sugar Reform, which represents consumer groups and companies that produce food and beverages, estimates U.S. consumers will pay an additional $1 billion a year under the deal. … Asked about the sugar agreement, Hershey Co. spokesman Jeff Beckman referred to a statement from the Sweetener Users Association that it “will further distort…
A new agreement between the United States and Mexico will be a sweet one for a small handful of American sugar producers – but it will leave a sour taste in the mouth of U.S. packaged food makers, soda producers, restaurants, confectioners, and ultimately consumers. … How big a dent will this put in the…
Businesses in the American and Mexican food and beverage industry are finding it difficult to swallow the new agreement for trading sugar between the two countries. The deal seems to be palatable for one sector: producers of alternative sweeteners, including at least one company in Arizona. … For packaged food makers and soda companies, overall…
“The food and beverage manufacturers would like changes in the sugar support program that make it less restrictive [for them],” said economist Tom Earley of the consulting firm Agralytica. “There was a provision added to the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills that limits the Secretary of Agriculture’s ability to adjust a number of imports until…