News Releases for November 2003
November 21, 2003
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven Presses U.S. Commerce Secretary, Senior White House Official On Sugar Trade Policy
Governor Pushes To Exclude Sugar From Cafta Talks
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today spoke in person with U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans and Deputy Assistant to the President Matt Schlapp in a continuing effort to have U.S. officials retain tariff rate quotas that protect the nation’s sugar producers from subsidized foreign imports. Hoeven told the officials that sugar should not be a negotiating chip in talks now underway on the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
”Sugar production and processing are vital industries in North Dakota,” Hoeven said. “On behalf of sugar producers, I impressed on Secretary Evans and Deputy Schlapp that we must make every effort to retain loan and tariff programs that level the playing field for U.S. sugar producers. In North Dakota alone that represents nearly 2,000 family beet farmers.”
Today’s discussions follow conversations Hoeven had last week urging U.S. Trade Ambassador Alan Johnson and senior White House officials to exclude sugar from the negotiations. In August, the Governor made a similar request in a letter to President Bush. Sugar should be reserved for debate in a global forum, specifically in the World Trade Organization negotiations, according to Hoeven.
“Our farmers and processors are highly competitive on an multinational basis,” Hoeven said. “They have repeatedly expressed a willingness to compete with sugar producers around the world, but that competition must be on a fair economic footing. We will continue to push the administration for the industry.”
E-mail comments to the Governor
