Heitkamp Successfully Presses Administration to Tighten Mexico Sugar Deal, Protecting ND Growers

Statement

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today expressed support for the U.S.-Mexico sugar agreement that was announced earlier this month, after the administration addressed concerns she identified that could have allowed Mexico to continue illegally dumping sugar into U.S. markets, which harms North Dakota sugar growers.

Earlier this month, Heitkamp spoke with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to urge him to hold Mexico accountable if it continues dumping sugar into U.S. markets. The initial deal the administration announced included loopholes Mexico could have exploited. Perdue assured Heitkamp he would hold Mexico accountable -- and now the administration has tightened the agreement, as Heitkamp pushed for, to address those concerns.

"After I told Secretary Perdue how a loophole in this deal could allow Mexico to continue hurting North Dakota farmers, the Commerce Department has tightened the deal to defend our sugar growers," said Heitkamp. "When Mexico dumps subsidized sugar into our markets, it hurts sugar growers in the Red River Valley and beyond -- and when North Dakota farmers can't succeed because of unfair trade practices, that has ripple effects throughout rural communities and our state's economy. Now that Commerce has worked to tighten this U.S.-Mexico sugar agreement to protect North Dakota farmers, as I called for, I'll work with Secretary Perdue to strictly enforce it and defend our producers."

Specifically, Heitkamp expressed concern to Perdue about a major loophole in the agreement's section dealing with additional U.S. needs -- and that loophole has now been addressed, which will better protect sugar growers in the Red River Valley. The loophole would have eliminated the U.S.'s power to determine the type and polarity of any additional sugar that needs to be imported, instead ceding that power to Mexico.

Heitkamp has long pushed both the USDA and U.S. Department of Commerce to take on Mexico for illegally dumping subsidized sugar into the U.S., harming North Dakota sugar growers. Since 2015, when the U.S. found that Mexican dumping and subsidies were hurting American sugar producers, the U.S. has been working to find a solution that defends the domestic sugar industry and the jobs it creates in the Red River Valley.

Last month, Heitkamp urged U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to defend North Dakota agricultural priorities in international trade -- including addressing concerns that North Dakota producers have about Mexican sugar dumping. In one-on-one meetings with Lighthizer and other administration officials, Heitkamp has reinforced that trade agreements should level the playing field for farmers, ranchers, and workers, while also holding other countries accountable when they cheat on trade deals.

Source