January 5, 2021

Through all the difficulties of the past year — the economic, social, and personal devastation that millions suffered through the Covid pandemic — numerous heroes emerged who deserve a final glance of recognition as we prepare for better days ahead.

Americans are of course tremendously grateful for our healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, technicians, and medical staff who stood on the front lines to save lives and prevent a far worse outcome for countless families.

And in the midst of a downward spiraling economy that lead to supply shortages of hundreds of household items, we hold a special place of thanks for America’s farmers. Millions who work in this crucial industry shouldered enormous burdens – mostly by working harder for less income – to keep the supply of food flowing from the fields, to store shelves, to our homes.

Under the most difficult circumstances U.S. farms weathered storms beyond even the pandemic; higher operating expenses, uncooperative weather, and predatory trade practices by foreign nations seeking to put American farmers and workers out of business for good.

Still, when hit with the pandemic they kept planting, harvesting, and delivering food to our tables. Through all the tumult of the past year, farmers remained steadfast and unyielding, delivering for our nation in our most dire hour.

With a New Year and new political blood coming to Washington, it is critical that we not abandon the policies that protect U.S. farmers from unfair trade practices and hostile policies of our trading partners. CASE has remained a vocal and vigilant watchdog, standing in opposition to those seeking to abandon sound policies on foreign trade, policies that prevent devastation to U.S. growers of soy, wheat, corn, and numerous other vital commodities.

In the most egregious example of unfair trade, foreign sugar producers continue to subsidize their domestic growers and erect crushing tariffs to wage a trade war that takes direct aim at America’s sugar growers. Poorly managed commodities in nations such as Brazil, China, and India continue to threaten our farmers, as they pile more and more subsidies into their domestic industries to disrupt and corrupt the global market for sugar.

Currently U.S. policy provides no subsidies to domestic sugar growers, but offers interest-bearing loans to assist them in staying current with technology and growth strategies to help ensure a stable supply of sugar and promote cost efficiencies which benefit consumers. Unlike the policies of other nations, Washington’s stance toward our domestic growers is principled, fair, and moored in market dynamics that reward efficiency and sound management of price and supply.

Sugar is central to the production of thousands of food and beverage products, prepared meals and even medicines. We shudder to think of the fate of American farmers should newcomers to Washington decide to abandon policies that protect consumers and enhance the ability of U.S. growers to compete fairly on the global market. Foreign nations have created a disaster zone with their endless subsidies and trade barriers, making sugar the most corrupted commodity in price and supply. It’s a mess that demands more U.S. leadership, not less.

The U.S. sugar industry has long championed a zero-for-zero policy, which would eliminate U.S. sugar tariffs in exchange for the end of foreign subsidies across the board. Such a measure would allow price to be based on actual costs, not twisted out of shape by government tariffs and subsidies.

Sticking to this sound policy is not only good for U.S. consumers and our agricultural economy, but puts American leadership and free-market principles center-stage to set an example of how the rest of the world should engage in trade. 2020 was yet another reminder that American farmers are not only a most essential pillar of our economy, but a profession composed of committed individuals, co-ops and companies that America can count without fail. Let’s make sure that as we turn the page to 2021, we return the gesture by standing with these heroes against foreign trade hostility, without fail.