GAO Finds Special Protections in U.S. Sugar Program Come at Expense of Consumers, Has Led to U.S. Job Loss

Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (November 1, 2023) – In a new report published yesterday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirmed the financial burdens imposed by the sugar program on U.S. consumers and the economy. The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) pointed to the findings of “Sugar Program: Alternative Methods for Implementing Import Restrictions Could Increase Effectiveness” as further evidence of the urgent need for U.S. sugar policy reform in the 2023 farm bill. …

New Issue Brief Explains How Sugar Program Administrators Can Update Definition of ‘Refined’ Sugar to Ensure It Actually Is Refined

Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (July 20, 2023) — The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) today released an issue brief explaining that, when domestic sugar supplies are short and import quotas need to be increased, the use of an outdated standard for refined sugar results in imported sugar that fails to meet the needs of consumers and sugar-using companies. The brief offers simple solutions U.S. officials can implement to fix this problem. …

SUA Commends USDA for Allowing Additional Raw Sugar Imports

Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (July 14, 2023) — The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) today commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for recently increasing the raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) by 125,000 metric tons, raw value (MTRV). In its letter, SUA wrote:

We commend USDA for recognizing that by all reasonable metrics, the domestic market remains inadequately supplied. The TRQ increase is a positive step toward supply adequacy, and we thank the Department for its efforts in this regard. …

SUA Supports Amending Definition of Specialty Sugar So No Further Processing Is Required After Import

Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (July 10, 2023) — In comments submitted last Friday to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Sweetener Users Association (SUA) supported amending the definition of specialty sugar to “[r]equire no further refining, processing, or other preparation prior to consumption, other than incorporation as an ingredient in human food.” …

Imports of Sugar-Containing Products Divert Sales From American Growers and Processors, New White Paper Shows

Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2023) – The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) today released a new white paper describing how U.S. sugar policy encourages imports of sugar-containing products (SCPs) that would otherwise be produced in the United States, leading to the export of good American jobs and fewer sales for American sugar growers and processors. …

SUA Welcomes USTR Reallocation of Unused Raw Sugar TRQs

Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (March 14, 2023) – The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) today welcomed a decision by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to reallocate unused country-specific quota allocations under the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on imported raw cane sugar for fiscal year (FY) 2023. SUA had previously asked USTR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a reallocation to help U.S. sugar-using companies meet demand during a time of historically tight sugar supplies. …