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Mexico has one more day in sugar dispute

The Department of Commerce has given Mexico one more day to finalize terms of sugar negotiations with the U.S.

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters Monday, “Obviously these negotiations are tough, they’ve been tough, and both sides have been very firm in some of their requirements, but over the weekend I think there was progress made.”

The U.S. sugar industry wants more restrictions on raw and refined sugar imports from Mexico, but Mexico is standing their ground.  Perdue says, “I’m hopeful that both sides will understand it’s absolutely in both of our best interests to come to a resolution over this rather than reintroduce tariffs.”

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross says the 24 hour extension from Monday’s deadline is to work out technical details in the final discussions.

In May, the U.S. Department of Commerce said it would end the antidumping and countervailing duty suspension agreements in place with Mexico and impose duties on Mexican sugar beginning June 5, unless the two countries could come to an agreement.