Demanding a decent deal on sugar

A SIGNIFICANT deal for sugar must be included in the US Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement to boost jobs and provide surety for one of the region’s major industries.There are positive noises emanating from the United States on sugar access, but Queensland growers and the regions that rely on them want to see decisive action rather than token gestures.Though it’s good to hear US trade representative Michael Froman state that the US is willing to grant additional access to US sugar markets, the key sticking point will be the extent of that access.The call is for a significant and commercially meaningful offer, not a token offer.This is what Trade Minister Andrew Robb is calling for, and this is what the sugar cane growers of this region expect.The US needs more sugar; American manufacturers are calling for it, and we have the ability to supply that sugar.But we still don’t have a genuine offer from the US on this.A significant deal for sugar will be a shot in the arm for the industry and the flow-on effect will be more jobs in the region.The final round of TPP negotiations is likely to be held at the end of this month.