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Managed trade: The US–Mexico sugar suspension agreements

Carter, C A; Saitone, T L; Schaefer, K A

Authors

C A Carter

T L Saitone

K A Schaefer



Abstract

Under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexican sugar producers were ultimately granted free access to the US sugar market, while all other suppliers, including US refiners, were subject to supply quotas. Following a surge in imports of Mexican sugar, the American Sugar Coalition initiated anti‐dumping and countervailing duty (ADCVD) proceedings against Mexico in early 2014. In December 2014, the ADCVD cases were halted as a result of two suspension agreements negotiated between the US and Mexico. This paper contributes to a small number of empirical studies that have estimated the impact of suspension agreements. We measure the impacts of the ADCVD filings and the suspension agreements on US domestic raw and refined prices, the raw‐to‐refined margin and the quantity and composition of sugar imports from Mexico. Results suggest US raw sugar prices increased by 3¢ per lb. (14%) under ADCVD proceedings, equivalent to an ad valorem tariff between 40% and 50%, while the suspension agreements increased US raw sugar prices by 5¢ (70% tariff equivalent). US refined sugar prices increased by similar amounts under the ADCVD proceedings and the suspension agreements (4.5¢ per lb.). Ultimately, both the ADCVD proceedings and the suspension agreements significantly reduced sugar imports from Mexico. US sugar refiner economic welfare hinges critically on the quantity and composition of raw sugar imports. As such, refiner revenue, following the ADCVD filings and suspension agreements, is estimated to have declined by 16%, relative to a free trade environment.

Citation

Carter, C. A., Saitone, T. L., & Schaefer, K. A. (2019). Managed trade: The US–Mexico sugar suspension agreements. Canadian Journal of Economics, https://doi.org/10.1111/caje.12393

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 1, 2018
Publication Date Jun 28, 2019
Deposit Date Jul 3, 2019
Publicly Available Date Jun 29, 2021
Journal Canadian Journal of Economics
Print ISSN 0008-4085
Electronic ISSN 1540-5982
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/caje.12393
Public URL https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1381463

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