International Trade

International trade issues and access to the U.S. market are critical matters for sugarbeet growers.

Fifteen percent of domestic consumption is imported from 41 countries, making the U.S. the fourth largest net importer of sugar in the world. With current efforts to expand the number of bilateral trade agreements between the U.S. and other sugar-producing and exporting countries, U.S. producers' share of their market is threatened. As more sugar is allowed to enter an already-saturated domestic market, growers could face lower prices.

The industry believes that sugar should not be included in bilateral trade agreements, but should rather be addressed on a multilateral basis, where worldwide subsidies can be addressed and appropriately eliminated.