The US Sugar Program

The current sugar policy in the United States – a system of price supports and import restrictions – cannot be justified on economic or humanitarian grounds. Using a combination of preferential loan agreements and a protectionist quota/tariff regime, the U.S. maintains an artificially high price for sugar — a price that can be as high as twice the world market price. The cost of this price support and tariff regime includes lost jobs in sugar-related industries, lost export potential, higher food prices for U.S. consumers, and taxes that fund the subsidization of the growers themselves. In addition, the U.S. sugar program causes environmental damage, particularly in Florida, and blights economic opportunities for many small farmers in developing countries.

This wasteful price support program has remained in place for too long thanks to the lobbying efforts of the powerful U.S. sugar industry. Non-profit organizations from across the political spectrum are now calling on President George W. Bush and Members of Congress to end this wasteful price support program immediately.

● For an Up to Date view on the developments and problems with the 2007 Farm Bill

More material to read-

Big Sugar Strikes Back: The 2007 Farm Bill
By: Gabriel Sahlgren

July 30, 2007

At the end of the day, the Members of the House sang the same old song as they always do. On Friday July 27, the $286 billion 2007 farm bill was passed by a vote of 231-191. And as expected, the bill included an extension, and expansion, of the already bloated U.S. Sugar Program.

If not anything startling occurs, such as the Senate going in a different direction or the President vetoing a final farm bill, every organization interested in reducing taxpayers’ burden, promoting lower prices for consumers, and helping developing countries can look forward to another five years of extensive opposition against the egregious sugar scheme. Read More »

Congressional Letter to Members of the House Agriculture Committee- July 17, 2007

Open Letter to President Bush and the U.S. Congress.

NGO Statements Supporting Sugar Reform

For more information on the harmful effects of the U.S. sugar policies, click on the links to the left.

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