CAFTA Vote Critical To Sugar Industry's Future.

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- In response to the upcoming U.S. Senate vote on the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the Minnesota sugar industry released the following statement (supported by American Crystal, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association and Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative):

"The sugar industry has said throughout the debate on CAFTA that the agreement presents our industry with short-term and long-term problems. In the last few days an effort was made to provide a short-term fix. Friends do sometimes disagree, and we remain convinced that a vote for CAFTA, based on a short-term fix, places Minnesota's 20,000 sugarbeet farmers and workers at risk.

"Plain and simple: No deal was brokered that addresses our concerns with CAFTA. And, there appears to be no interest by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Trade Representative's office to find a long-term comprehensive solution.

"Our jobs, farms, factories, and way of life are on the line. It's our livelihoods that hang in the balance of the CAFTA vote, and we know what's best for us.

"The Administration's proposal to 'fix sugar' is unsustainable. It will not protect our jobs or Minnesota's rural economy because CAFTA is a permanent trade agreement.

"The men and women of Minnesota's sugar industry remain adamantly opposed to CAFTA. We will continue to send the message to Minnesota's lawmakers to vote against it."

The Senate is expected to vote today. A House vote is likely to occur before August.