Sugar Reform Caucus Seeks to Implement Change Now

Washington, D.C., April 21, 2011—CEI Adjunct Scholar Fran Smith is speaking this morning at a Congressional Sugar Reform Caucus briefing on the effects of current U.S. sugar policy on trade, jobs, and consumer welfare. The caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group working to reform the sugar program that increases consumers’ food costs, leads to job losses, and creates uncertainty in the sugar supply. The caucus leaders are Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL).

Fran Smith’s comments before the caucus focus specifically on how the current U.S. sugar program keeps sugar prices at artificially high levels, benefitting the small group of domestic sugar producers, but harming American consumers, particularly the poor.

“The U.S. sugar program is a classic case of concentrated benefits and dispersed costs,” Smith explains. “A small number of sugar producers receive enormous benefits, while the costs are spread across the U.S. economy, hitting consumers and the sweetener-using industries.”

For comments from Fran Smith on sugar reform and on this morning’s briefing, contact Nicole Ciandella in the CEI Media Department at [email protected] or 202.331.2773.