June 9, 1999

U.S. sugar producers are pleased with a ruling from the U.S. Customs Service that a sugar syrup product no longer will be permitted to enter the United States apart from the U.S. sugar import quotas.

James W. Johnson, chairman of the American Sugar Alliance, said the product, known as "stuffed molasses," was created for the sole purpose of circumventing the U.S. sugar import quota system (which is) a response to subsidized foreign sugar which is dumped on the world market and would threaten to eliminate efficient U.S. sugar producers."

The customs ruling doesn't prohibit imports of stuffed molasses. Instead it stipulates that these sugar syrups be counted toward fulfillment of U.S. sugar import commitments.