No, it's not just your sweet tooth
But now that protection is in jeopardy because of the possible ratification this spring of the Central America Free Trade Agreement. This agreement would open U.S. markets up to the importation of more foreign sugar. The sugar lobby has fought hard against CAFTA, but the Bush administration has pledged its support. In addition, the new secretary of commerce, Carlos Gutierrez, opposed sugar supports last year when he was president of the Kellogg Co.; during a hearing last June, one of his deputies testified to Congress that the U.S. sugar program "is sorely out of step with a global economy." Gutierrez, acknowledging his biases, promised to recuse himself from debates on sugar in which he feels there is a conflict of interest.
Even in Congress, where sugar producers have long had a cozy relationship with members, support may be waning. Last year, Democratic Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana, who had been cochairman of the Senate Sweetener Caucus and a major force behind favorable government policies toward sugar, retired. Also last year, Republican Rep. Mark Kirk of Illinois founded the bipartisan Sugar Reform Caucus to try to cut sugar subsidies. They have been working with nonpartisan groups and drumming up support for their proposals in Congress. "In a private room, no one supports the sugar lobby," says Kirk.
Still, their opposition may stay behind closed doors as long as the sugar industry continues to fight back with one of the most powerful incentives in Washington: money. During the 2004 elections, the sugar industry gave more than $3.1 million to politicians, slightly favoring Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The Fanjul family, which owns sugar farms throughout Florida and the Dominican Republic, gave $430,750 during 2004, and Jose "Pepe" Fanjul became one of President Bush's "Rangers" --those who raised more than $200,000. Alfonso Fanjul famously showed up in Kenneth Starr's report on the Monica Lewinsky affair because former President Clinton took his call when Lewinsky was in the Oval Office.
The ratification of CAFTA will most likely go to the Senate and House for debate later this spring, and the sugar industry will be in full battle mode. No doubt it will be chasing the support of Congress and the public, with a message similar to the one on the Sugar Association spokeswoman's answering machine:
"There's nothing better than the sweet taste of all-natural sugar. Only 15 calories a teaspoon. Why would you choose anything else?"
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