European Sugar Rift Deepens Over Plan to Curb Duty-Free Imports

The European Commission’s plan to curb some duty-free sugar imports to bolster prices is pitting beet growers against cane refiners and multinational food giants, in a dispute that risks undermining the region’s competitiveness.

The European Union’s executive arm is proposing temporarily suspending the EU’s so-called inward processing regime due to concern that the mechanism — allowing companies to import sugar duty-free so long as it’s re-exported after being processed — is being abused. On Thursday, members states are set to vote on a one-year suspension that would take force on May 27, according to an EU official.