ABA: urges Congress and USDA to increase sugar imports

Washington / D.C. (aba) Businesses and consumers alike continue to suffer from government sugar policies that have triggered record-high prices, the American Bakers Association (ABA) says. «New government statistics show that sugar prices in February set an all-time high», says Robb MacKie, ABA president and CEO, in a press release. «Bakers and consumers were paying record prices because the government deliberately keeps sugar supplies tight». Sugar is among a handful of commodities that are not permitted to be imported freely into the United States. Instead, the federal government sets quotas that restrict the exact number of tons of sugar that 40 different countries are allowed to supply to the U.S. market. «When quotas are set too low, prices skyrocket – as is happening right now», said Cory Martin, ABA senior manager, government relations. «The solution is an immediate, major increase in the import quota», Martin said. «USDA should act now to help consumers and small businesses obtain the sugar they need». In addition to sugar policy´s impact on consumers, the U.S. Department of Commerce has implicated the U.S. sugar program in the loss of thousands of good-paying domestic manufacturing jobs, ABA says in its statement (… that – with no word – mentions the government´s and other institutions´ efforts to fight obesity in the United States).

About: The American Bakers Association (ABA) is the Washington, District of Columbia based voice of the wholesale baking industry in the United States. Since 1897, ABA has represented the interests of bakers before the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, state legislatures and international regulatory authorities. ABA advocates on behalf of over 200 companies – both baking companies and their suppliers. ABA members produce bread, rolls, crackers, bagels, sweet goods, tortillas and many other wholesome, nutritious, baked products for America´s families. The baking industry generates more than 70 billion USD in economic activity annually and employs close to half a million highly skilled people.