12/13/07 Mexian sugar imports concern US growers

Alan Welp of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association says January first is the day that Mexico can bring tariff free sugar into the United States. WELP "And there are issues that need to be addressed and that we are very concerned and we currently are working on proposals each of us can take to our own governments to try to solve some of these issues as we transition into a free market." Idaho Sugarbeet Growers Association executive director Mark Duffin says under NAFTA there's no limit on the amount of Mexican sugar that can come across the border. DUFFIN "So in preparation for this we have been doing a lot of research and putting our information together to file anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases against Mexico. You do that and you can stop the sugar from coming in." They would have to go through trade courts but only after American farmers can show that they've been harmed by Mexican imports. The sugarbeet growers could also seek recourse through the 2007 Farm Bill now under debate in the US Senate. DUFFIN "Any excess sugar that comes in from Mexico beyond our consumer consumptive needs would be diverted to the ethanol market and so it would keep from flooding our food market." Obviously growers hope that provision is adopted in the Farm Bill before Congress breaks for the Christmas holiday. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott