WASHINGTON - U.S. sugar growers were somewhat heartened when U.S. Trade Representative Bob Zoellick did not include sugar in the free trade agreement with Australia, but from the exchanges at an April 28 House Agriculture Committee hearing, it looks like Zoellick will be granting more sugar access as the Bush administration proceeds with agreements in South America, Thailand and other countries.

House Agriculture Committee ranking member Charles Stenholm, D-Texas, a prominent fan of trade agreements, asked if it isn't "fairly normal that something gets excluded" from an agreement as happened with sugar in the U.S.-Australian trade agreement. Zoellick replied that the recent European Union trade agreements with South Africa covered only 45 percent of agricultural products and that the U.S. agreement with Canada did exclude sugar, but he added, "We try to be comprehensive so we can (get) them to put things on the table."

Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., noted that he agreed with Zoellick's position that domestic subsidies should be excluded in all negotiations except those in the World Trade Organization, but Zoellick cut him off, saying that he knew Peterson was going to tell him that he also should exclude sugar. Zoellick added there was "no way" he could get a CAFTA agreement that reduced tariffs on other agricultural products "unless we deal on sugar" and then provided a long list of Minnesota agriculture products he said would benefit from CAFTA.

Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., told Zoellick that if he wants the Central American Free Trade Agreement to pass, a signal of "no more sugar would alleviate (House members') concerns." But Zoellick said he had tried "to send a signal" that negotiators had "dealt sensitively" with sugar in the agreement.

"I can't negotiate in a public forum," Zoellick added.

Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, asked, "What are you thinking about doing next on sugar? Why not just take it off the table?"

Zoellick's reply: "I came under extreme criticism from the rest of the farm community for taking it off in Australia!"

A weary Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., didn't even try to exact a promise. Putnam simply noted that after Zoellick decided to exclude domestic subsidies such as those on wheat and corn from regional and bilateral agreements - a decision Putnam said he supported" - "we're left on the chopping block." Putnam's district is a big producer of sugar and fruits and vegetables.

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