Overview
- The decree took effect on November 11, setting 156% ad valorem on most cane and beet sugar and 210.44% on liquid refined and inverted sugar.
- The tariffs apply to imports from World Trade Organization members except partners covered by trade agreements that grant tariff preferences.
- The measure replaces specific per‑kilogram duties of roughly $0.338–$0.39586 per kg with ad valorem rates and, according to the government, complies with the Law of Foreign Trade and WTO obligations with input from the Foreign Trade Commission.
- Authorities cite oversupply and low international prices threatening mill profitability, with recent data showing output around 4.7 million tonnes versus about 3.9 million tonnes of apparent consumption and sizeable inventories.
- Cane growers’ unions welcomed the protection for jobs and prices, while analysts and downstream food and beverage firms cautioned that higher import costs could lift input and retail prices.