Sugar Producer

www.SugarProducer.com 31 The co-directors of the university's AgMore than 400 sugar industry stakeholders recently gathered for the 33rd International Sweetener Symposium in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The robust crowd and packed agenda are a testament to the important issues facing the industry. But if you didn't have a chance to make it—here are some of the highlights. Attendees received a warm welcome from Agriculture Committee leaders, who outlined their agendas when it comes to the future of sugar issues. "It's important that we again find a path forward with the Mexican government on [sugar] trade," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, in a video message. "It's important that we keep the farm bill intact and free from attacks designed to undermine the five-year sugar policy and beyond. And it's important that we are ensuring that the interests of U.S. sugar [producers] are represented in the larger trade agenda. I am laser focused on all of those things." Rep. Michael Conaway (R-Texas), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, agreed. "Sugar policy, for me, is easy to defend," he explained via video, telling sugar producers that he looks forward to working closely with them during development of the next farm bill. Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) received loud applause for his pledge to work hand-in-hand with U.S. sugar producers to defend no-cost U.S. sugar policy against farmers' critics in future legislative debates. In addition to members of Congress, Alexis Taylor, USDA's Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, addressed the group and described a number of the current administration's agricultural achievements. Taylor explained that the USDA has worked diligently to maintain a robust sugar supply, operate U.S. sugar policy FROM THE ASA By Phillip Hayes | Director of Media Relations Thank You for Another Successful Symposium without taxpayer cost, treat sugar fairly in international trade negotiations, and listen to concerns about unfair trading practices and subsidies abroad. Industry experts also spoke to attendees, noting that U.S. sugar prices have fallen while prices on the world market are rapidly rising, taking a key argument away from opponents of U.S. sugar policy who have long complained about not having more access to heavily subsidized foreign supplies. "U.S. sugar prices are down 21 percent over the past year," said Jack Roney, an economist with the American Sugar Alliance (ASA), who said that strong yields combined with unneeded refined imports are largely to blame. "U.S. food manufacturers are paying less for sugar today than they did when Jimmy Carter sat in the White House." On the other hand, global sugar prices are on a tear, more than doubling since last September. Such subsidization and unreliability, he said, underscore the importance of U.S. sugar policy. Regarding trade, leaders from the U.S. and European sugar industries agreed that no new market access commitments for sugar should be included in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) trade deal between the United States and the European Union (EU). Finally, new data was unveiled, including a new report detailing an estimated $1.7 billion in annual subsidies propping up India's inefficient sugar industry. Two studies touting the importance of U.S. sugar policy took center stage when ASA released a new video about studies by professors at Texas A&M University and the University of Maryland. Last but certainly not least, ASA also released its annual survey of sweetened product prices, which found that grocery shoppers with a sweet tooth are paying more than double what they paid for a candy bar 10 years earlier, even though the sugar in that candy bar is cheaper today than a decade ago. ASA first published its survey at the 2006 International Sweetener Symposium. You can read more about these highlights and more on ASA's website, where we've created a special page for symposium news: www.sugaralliance.org/resource-center/ press-releases. n Editor's note: Contact Phillip at phillip@sugaralliance.org. Luther Markwart, ASA chairman, asks Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, a few questions from the audience following Crapo's address. Crapo urged the U.S. administration officials to work with their Mexican counterparts to fix the suspension agreements so they can operate as intended.

• Cover