News & Insights

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) welcomed the introduction of bipartisan sugar reform legislation in both the House and Senate today. The Sugar Reform Act proposes needed reform of the current protectionist U.S. sugar program, rolling back the most restrictive provisions included in the 2008 farm bill. The NFTC applauds Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bob Corker (R-TN), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), as well as Representatives Joe Pitts (R-PA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) for spearheading sugar reform efforts.

NFTC President Bill Reinsch released the following statement:

“The NFTC commends this bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives for introducing sugar reform legislation in both the House and Senate and championing efforts to reform the U.S. sugar program this year. Outdated sugar policy not only stifles U.S. economic growth and job creation, but is one of the oldest and most protectionist programs mandated by Congress.

“The bills introduced today propose modest reforms, including repealing the additional import restrictions added in the 2008 farm bill and providing USDA with more flexibility in administering the import quota system. All together, these and other provisions of these sugar reform bills could help save consumers and businesses about $3.5 billion a year and protect about 600,000 jobs in sugar-using industries.”

The NFTC is a member of the Coalition for Sugar Reform, an alliance of business, consumer and environmental organizations calling for reform of the U.S. sugar program. In January, the NFTC signed onto a letter sent by the coalition to all new Members of Congress, urging them to support sugar reform legislation.