The Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) asked President-Elect Donald Trump to eliminate a key component of the U.S. farm safety net so cheaters abroad could dump their subsidized sugar surpluses onto America and drive domestic producers out of business.
Why? Because the maker of Oreo cookies moved a production line to Mexico.
True, no one associated with the company has ever blamed no-cost U.S. sugar policy for the relocation, and all rational observers agree that the move was made because of labor costs. Yet, that didn’t stop the IPI from exploiting an unfortunate situation to further their own political agenda.
We have no problem with a Chicago-based think tank taking a swipe at U.S. sugar policy. After all, Chicago is home to the candy lobby, which wants to outsource America’s sugar industry and the 142,000 jobs it supports.
But, we do have a problem with a Chicago-based think tank carelessly using half-truths to make its case. That’s why we sent them a polite note today explaining their obvious errors. Check out a copy at sugaralliance.org.