Bill Summary
A concurrent resolution is a legislative measure passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, expressing the sense of Congress on a particular issue. In this case, the resolution is stating that Congress believes all countries that produce and consume sugar should eliminate any subsidies that benefit their sugar industries. It highlights several major sugar-producing and -consuming countries that currently have subsidies in place, and calls for the President to work towards eliminating these subsidies. If all subsidies are eliminated, the President is then required to report to Congress on how this was achieved, and propose legislation to reform sugar policy in the United States. This resolution reflects Congress' belief that a free market for sugar would allow American sugar farmers to compete effectively.
Possible Impacts
1. Higher prices for sugar consumers: If the legislation is successful in eliminating subsidies from major sugar-producing and -consuming countries, it could lead to higher prices for sugar consumers. This could affect people who use sugar in their daily lives, such as in cooking and baking, as they may need to pay more for this ingredient.
2. Job loss for sugar industry workers: If the legislation leads to the elimination of subsidies for sugar producers, it could make it difficult for them to compete in the global market. This could result in job loss for workers in the sugar industry, both in the United States and in other countries.
3. Impact on international trade relationships: The legislation could potentially strain relationships between the United States and other countries, particularly those that heavily rely on subsidies for their sugar industries. This could have a ripple effect on other industries and trade agreements between the US and those countries.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 7 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 7
Expressing the sense of Congress that all direct and indirect subsidies
that benefit the production or export of sugar by all major sugar-
producing and -consuming countries should be eliminated.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 24, 2019
Mr. Yoho (for himself, Mr. Mooney of West Virginia, Mr. Hastings, Mr.
Jones, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Graves of Louisiana, and Mr.
Mitchell) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the
Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that all direct and indirect subsidies
that benefit the production or export of sugar by all major sugar-
producing and -consuming countries should be eliminated.
Whereas every major sugar-producing and sugar-consuming country in the world
maintains some form of direct or indirect subsidy to support its sugar
growers, processors, or consumers;
Whereas virtually all of the more than 100 countries that produce sugar maintain
market-distorting subsidy programs, including--
(1) the Government of Brazil which provides direct and indirect
subsidies of at least $2,500,000,000 per year for programs to promote its
sugar and ethanol industry and has increased subsidies in recent years in
the form of preferential loans, debt forgiveness, and increased ethanol
usage mandates;
(2) the Government of India which provides at least $1,700,000,000 per
year in subsidy supports to prop up its inefficient sugar industry,
including WTO-illegal export subsidies in 2014, 2015, and 2018;
(3) the Government of Thailand which has more than tripled its sugar
exports since 2004 by providing at least $1,300,000,000 in subsidies and
government programs to its sugar industry and by maintaining domestic
prices well above export prices;
(4) the Government of the European Union which is sending an estimated
$665,000,000 per year in subsidies to sugar farmers; and
(5) the Government of Mexico which has used direct and indirect
subsidies to keep open sugar mills owned by private industry and the
government has sent direct payments to sugarcane growers, and has been
found guilty of injuring United States sugar producers by dumping
subsidized sugar into the United States market;
Whereas the world sugar market is the most volatile commodity market in the
world;
Whereas the foregoing clauses provide ample evidence there is no undistorted,
free market in sugar in the world today; and
Whereas if such a free market did exist, United States sugar farmers and
processors could compete effectively in that market: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the President should seek elimination of all direct and
indirect subsidies benefiting the production or export of sugar
by the government of--
(A) each country that exported more than 200,000
metric tons of sugar in 2016, 2017, or 2018; and
(B) by any other country with which the United
States has in effect a free trade agreement;
(2) if the President determines that all such subsidies by
all such countries have been eliminated, the President should
submit a report to Congress providing detailed information
about how each of the countries has eliminated such subsidies;
and
(3) after submitting such a report, the President should
propose to Congress legislation to implement United States
sugar policy reforms.
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