May 21, 2004: Headlines: COS - Togo: Sugar: Agriculture: Election2004 - Kerry: CAFTA: Agriculture: Free Trade: Crystal Sugar: The Kerry campaign recruited Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and American Sugar Cane League Chairman Togo RPCV Jackie Theriot to attack Bush's support of the Central American Free Trade Agreement

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Togo: Peace Corps Togo : The Peace Corps in Togo: May 21, 2004: Headlines: COS - Togo: Sugar: Agriculture: Election2004 - Kerry: CAFTA: Agriculture: Free Trade: Crystal Sugar: The Kerry campaign recruited Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and American Sugar Cane League Chairman Togo RPCV Jackie Theriot to attack Bush's support of the Central American Free Trade Agreement

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-115-42.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.115.42) on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 6:54 pm: Edit Post

The Kerry campaign recruited Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and American Sugar Cane League Chairman Togo RPCV Jackie Theriot to attack Bush's support of the Central American Free Trade Agreement

The Kerry campaign recruited Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and American Sugar Cane League Chairman Togo RPCV Jackie Theriot to attack Bush's support of the Central American Free Trade Agreement

The Kerry campaign recruited Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and American Sugar Cane League Chairman Togo RPCV Jackie Theriot to attack Bush's support of the Central American Free Trade Agreement

Sugar Boosters Help Kerry Cane Bush on CAFTA
May 21, 2004
By John McQuaid, New Orleans Times-Picayune (LA)

WASHINGTON -- Taking aim at President Bush on the eve of his visit to Louisiana, Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign Thursday sought to tap a powerful local issue: sugar cane.

The Kerry campaign recruited Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and American Sugar Cane League Chairman Jackie Theriot to attack Bush's support of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, which would boost sugar imports if Congress passes it. Bush is scheduled to sign the trade agreement next week.

Landrieu said in a conference call with reporters that Bush "should address the issue to the people of Louisiana and explain what the impact is going to be of a policy that his administration has negotiated. . . . Are they or are they not selling Louisiana's industry down the river?"

The Bush campaign did not return phone calls seeking a response. The president is scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge today and to attend a fund-raiser in Metairie. For some, the criticism of sugar policy may provoke political déjà vu. Landrieu won her 2002 re-election race in part by hammering Bush and opponent Suzanne Haik Terrell over the administration's negotiations with Mexico over sugar imports. The Landrieu campaign said a "secret deal" would bring a major increase in Mexican sugar imports and undermine Louisiana's cane farmers. Though negotiations continue, no deal has been reached.

CAFTA would raise the amount of sugar imported to the United States by 99,000 metric tons the first year and increase that to 140,000 tons after 15 years.

The Bush administration and CAFTA advocates note that the amounts are small when compared with total U.S. production, which was 8.1 million tons last year. Sugar industry representatives counter that any increase in sugar imports will hurt the delicate, government-mandated balance of supply and demand that maintains sugar prices at profitable levels. They also say that if CAFTA passes, more such deals likely would follow.

"We're very concerned about the impact to Louisiana, and we're going to fight it tooth and nail," Theriot said. He said it appears unlikely CAFTA will come before Congress this year.

Theriot said he is backing Kerry but that the American Sugar Cane League does not formally endorse candidates.

Kerry has not addressed the sugar issue specifically, a spokesman said, but he opposes CAFTA. Generally, he has sought a cautious line on trade agreements. He says he is for free trade, but he has called for a 120-day review of all existing trade agreements. He said he won't sign any new ones until it is complete.




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Story Source: Crystal Sugar

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Togo; Sugar; Agriculture; Election2004 - Kerry; CAFTA; Agriculture; Free Trade

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