WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Bakers Association (ABA) strongly opposes the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to impose duties on all imported sugar from Mexico. “This move will only continue to penalize bakers as they struggle to provide fresh, wholesome products to Americans in this sluggish economy,” said Robb MacKie, ABA President and CEO. “Making it more difficult to secure adequate supplies of sugar may lead to another supply crunch: a recurring theme within the archaic U.S. sugar program.”
“This decision puts 700,000 baking industry jobs at risk,” said Cory Martin, ABA Director of Government Relations. “The Department of Commerce needs to take a hard look at their 2006 report highlighting domestic job losses due to the current U.S. sugar program. The current program has already led to the loss of approximately 127,000 jobs. Restricting free trade with Mexico through duties will only exacerbate the problem.”
ABA will activate its Rise to Action Grassroots Action Center to enable bakers to submit formal comments to the record on this critical issue. “It is essential that bakers make their voices heard with the U.S. Department of Commerce in order to ensure that the industry’s concerns are addressed,” added Martin. “ABA has made it easy for bakers to do this by visiting www.risetoaction.org.”
About the American Bakers Association:
The American Bakers Association (ABA) is the Washington D.C.-based voice of the wholesale baking industry. Since 1897, ABA has represented the interests of bakers before the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and international regulatory authorities. ABA advocates on behalf of more than 700 baking facilities and baking company suppliers. ABA members produce bread, rolls, crackers, bagels, sweet goods, tortillas and many other wholesome, nutritious, baked products for America’s families. The baking industry generates more than $102 billion in economic activity annually and employs more than 706,000 highly skilled people.
Source: American Bakers Association