Jettison Export Subsidies and Comply, says Global Sugar Alliance

Media Release: Global Alliance for Sugar Trade Reform and Liberalization

Export subsidies must be eliminated and the EU must be made to comply with its trade commitments says the Global Sugar Alliance which brings together 85% of the world cane sugar exports.

The Global Alliance for Sugar Trade Reform and Liberalisation met in London today, where they agreed that removing export subsidies as soon as possible and ensuring EU compliance with its World Trade Organisation (WTO) commitments was a priority.

The EU continues to produce and export surplus sugar despite clear evidence of the negative impact to world market prices of export subsidies.

”Without a deal, the WTO is being usurped by a series of bilateral and regional agreements,” says Mr Greg Beashel, incoming Chairman of the Global Sugar Alliance, and Chief Executive of Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL).

“Open markets will lift economic growth and enhance food security around the world.

“Out dated trade rules have no place in the 21^st century.”

Beashel says the alliance will now focus on exploring all options to reach agreement and conclude the Doha round talks.  “Now more than ever the leadership of the US and EU is needed,” he says.  “They should deliver on the 2005 agreement and eliminate export subsides by the end of 2013.”

“Interventionist policies continue to distort markets, preventing the world’s most efficient sugar and lowest cost producers from meeting rising global demand for sugar.”

“In this day and age there is no reason to prevent consumers – wherever they are located – from accessing the most competitively produced sugar in the world.”

“Market mechanisms will ensure the needs of consumers can be met without the need for production quotas, tariffs and import restrictions to deliver producer price support.”

Greg Beashel CEO of QSL was unanimously elected Chairman of the Global Sugar Alliance at the December 2012 meeting.

The Global Alliance for Sugar Trade Reform and Liberalization brings together 85% of the world cane sugar exports.  Global Sugar Alliance members (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, India, Guatemala, South Africa and Thailand) are active advocates to improve the world sugar trading environment.  Members work to ensure fair and equal treatment of sugar and ethanol in WTO negotiations on agriculture on governments to remove restrictions that prevent fair access to competitively produced sugar and ethanol and www.globalsugaralliance.org