Dear Under Secretaries Bonnie and Taylor: Members of the Sweetener Users Association (SUA) appreciate the recent increase in the raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) of 125,000 metric tons, raw value (MTRV). We commend USDA for recognizing that by all reasonable metrics, the domestic market remains inadequately supplied. The TRQ increase is a positive step toward…
These comments are submitted on behalf of the Sweetener Users Association (SUA), whose members use sugar and other nutritive sweeteners in manufacturing foods and beverages. Companies in the industries represented by SUA account for some 600,000 jobs in the United States. SUA appreciates the opportunity to provide our views on a request for comments entitled…
Dear Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman: Members of the Sweetener Users Association (SUA) commend you for the recent hearings on the 2023 farm bill held by the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. You and your fellow Senators have gathered valuable information and perspectives that will assist you in the important task of crafting…
Dear Acting Under Secretary Hafemeister and Deputy Under Secretary Montaño Greene: Recently, you have received conflicting letters from sugar market participants discussing potential changes to how the specialty sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) is administered. The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) appreciated the chance to discuss these potential changes with your staff recently and would like to…
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on “Supply Chains for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products.” The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) comprises companies that use sugar and other caloric sweeteners to make foods and beverages, as well as trade associations representing these companies. Sweetener-using segments of the food industry directly employ…
We write to urge you to exercise your authority to make adequate supplies of sugar available to the U.S. market. At present, several factors including a severe supply bottleneck in the Gulf region have driven prices to multi-year highs and, if not addressed, will encourage the offshoring of additional food manufacturing capacity. As you may…
The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) wishes to reiterate our strong recommendation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture act expeditiously to increase supplies of sugar available in the domestic market through an increase in the Export Limit for Mexico, an increase in the raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ), or a combination; and by working with the…
The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) wishes to congratulate you on your confirmation as U.S. Trade Representative. We look forward to working with you and your team on issues relevant to trade in sugar, where the Office of U.S. Trade Representative plays a crucial role not only in negotiating with our trading partners, but also in…
The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) appreciates the role that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative plays in administering U.S. sugar policies, in particular the allocation of the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs). You are no doubt aware that operating U.S. sugar policy requires balance and judgment. To a greater extent than for most other commodities, sugar…
The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) congratulates you on being confirmed again as Secretary of Agriculture. SUA supported your nomination and looks forward to working with you and your team. From your prior service, you are no doubt aware that operating U.S. sugar policy requires balance and judgment. To a greater extent than for most other…