Stenholm Tells Farmers `Don’t Apologize’

August 10, 2000

Rep. Charles Stenholm (D-TX) believes farmers "should never apologize for asking the government to stand shoulder to shoulder with them to get a level playing field in the international marketplace." Speaking to sugar growers, he also argued for a position that has applied to all agricultural commodity groups: present a united front on agricultural policy when the debate begins on the next farm bill.

In an address to the International Sweetener Symposium, sponsored by the American Sugar Alliance, being here in Colorado, Stenholm urged agreement on policy positions that then can be presented to members of the House Agriculture Committee. Stenholm is the ranking Democrat on that panel. He assured farmers the committee was "going to bust a gut to create a level playing field (for international trade) ... not just philosophically, but in fact."

He said the world sugar market "is not a free market. It isn't now, never has been, and never will be." As for trade issues, Stenholm said, "Side agreements need to be honored." He referred to the dispute between Mexico and the United States over a side- letter agreement that set specific conditions on sugar imports from Mexico. He said North American Free Trade Agreement never would have been approved without the side letter which Mexico now disputes.

Stenholm called for cooperation, not just within the industry itself, but also with "those who buy sugar," an argument he has often used with other commodity groups in an effort to get growers and processors to agree on policy directions. Commercial sugar users traditionally have traditionally criticized U.S. sugar policy. But if U.S. sugar policy is ended, he said, American farmers could be driven out of business. Stenholm said the commercial users need to ask themselves, "Do you really want to be dependent on sugar from the world dump market?"

In a message to sugar producers as well as commercial users, he said, "It is absolutely necessary that we learn to work together. There needs to be cooperative effort."