Sugar Industry Leary of DR In CAFTA

U.S. Sugar Industry Group has responded to the inclusion of the Dominican Republic in the Central American Free Trade Agreement, re-emphasizing its position that sugar trade should be carried out in the World Trade Organization. Carolyn Cheney, chair of the Industry Group, said, "Global distortions in the marketing of sugar need to be addressed globally. The only way to do that is through the WTO and not piecemeal in the regional and bilateral trade agreements. She said, "the American sugar market is already oversupplied. Every additional pound of sugar that is brought into this country--and we are the fourth largest net importer of sugar in the workd--means one less pound of sugar that our efficient farmers can put on the market."