Sweeten Free Trade
2 February 2008
Editor, The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
To the Editor:
Discussing sugar-industry recommendations "for better facilitating Nafta's sweetener trade," the American Sugar Alliance's Jack Roney - true to form of all industry lobbyists - argues that the purpose of trade is to generate profits for producers (Letters, February 2). He happily boasts that "Mexico's sugar industry is very supportive of the plan because it will help maximize sugar trade and ensure the economic success of Nafta for both Mexican and U.S. sugar producers."
The thrust of your editorial that prompted Mr. Roney to write is the proper one, namely, that Uncle Sam should stop his long-standing practice of collecting booty for sugar producers by picking the pockets of taxpayers and consumers. Mr. Roney disingenuously changed the subject to the welfare of sugar producers. His only passing acknowledgment of consumers' interest is his suggestion that free trade in sugar will result in "market chaos" - a suggestion with absolutely no foundation in fact or theory.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Editor, The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
To the Editor:
Discussing sugar-industry recommendations "for better facilitating Nafta's sweetener trade," the American Sugar Alliance's Jack Roney - true to form of all industry lobbyists - argues that the purpose of trade is to generate profits for producers (Letters, February 2). He happily boasts that "Mexico's sugar industry is very supportive of the plan because it will help maximize sugar trade and ensure the economic success of Nafta for both Mexican and U.S. sugar producers."
The thrust of your editorial that prompted Mr. Roney to write is the proper one, namely, that Uncle Sam should stop his long-standing practice of collecting booty for sugar producers by picking the pockets of taxpayers and consumers. Mr. Roney disingenuously changed the subject to the welfare of sugar producers. His only passing acknowledgment of consumers' interest is his suggestion that free trade in sugar will result in "market chaos" - a suggestion with absolutely no foundation in fact or theory.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Wednesday June 25, 2008 at 7:34am