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Public
FTAA.soc/civ/96
June 10, 2003


Original: English

FTAA - COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PARTICIPATION OF
CIVIL SOCIETY

CONTRIBUTION IN RESPONSE TO THE OPEN AND ONGOING INVITATION


Name(s): Lawrence T. Graham, President
Organization(s): National Confectioners Association / Chocolate Manufacturers Association
Country: USA

National Confectioners Association
Chocolate Manufacturers Association

 

Submission from the U.S. Confectionery Industry Concerning
Negotiations in the Free Trade Area of the Americas

May 1, 2003

 

This statement is submitted by the National Confectioners Association and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association (NCA/CMA) in response to the public request from the FTAA Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society for comments on the negotiations in the Free Trade Area of the Americas. This submission echoes the aggressive trade liberalization initiatives the US confectionery industry has supported in other fora, including the Doha Round of trade negotiations.

I. INDUSTRY BACKGROUND

Four hundred companies, all members of the Chocolate Manufacturers Association and the National Confectioners Association, manufacture more than 90% of the chocolate and confectionery products in the United States. Another 250 companies supply those manufacturers. The industry is represented in 35 states with particular concentration in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, California, New York, Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, and Ohio. Approximately 65,000 jobs in the US are directly involved in the manufacture of confectionery and chocolate products. When the distribution and sale of these products is taken into consideration, the employment effect triples.

ü The US chocolate and confectionery industry is a principle consumer of key US agricultural commodities. For every dollar of cocoa imported, between one and two dollars of domestic agricultural products are used in the making of chocolate.

o Sugar: 3 billion pounds annually or 8 million pounds a day. Confectionery manufacturers are the second largest users of sugar in the US most of which is domestic sugar. The value of sugar consumed in confectionery manufacture is $800 million annually.

o Milk and Milk Products: 653 million pounds annually or 1.8 million pounds per day. The value of dairy products consumed in the making of chocolate last year was $490 million.

o Peanuts: 322 million pounds of domestic peanuts annually. The chocolate and confectionery industry consumes 25% of the US crop.

o Almonds: 43 million pounds of California almonds annually valued at $67 million.

o Sweeteners: 1.7 billion pounds of corn syrup sweeteners are used annually valued at over $205 million.

ü The industry generated $23.5 billion in sales last year of chocolate, chocolate confectionery, and sugar confectionery products.

ü In 2001, the industry exported more than $726 million in chocolate, chocolate confectionery, and sugar confectionery products to more than 50 countries around the world.

ü More than $512 million exported in confectionery products in 2001 to nearly every FTAA member country. This accounts for almost 70% of US confectionery exports.

ü Last year, the US market absorbed $1.2 billion in imports of confectionery products from FTAA member countries, more than two times US exports. Most products entered duty free.

The US confectionery industry views the countries of the FTAA as priority export markets and important source countries for world-price priority commodities. Nearly 70% of NCA / CMA members’ products are exported to FTAA member countries. In addition, critical raw materials are sourced from Latin and South America. Our members view the FTAA as a real opportunity to further open markets for finished confectionery products in Latin America and South America. Just as important, the industry expects that access to raw and intermediary materials is included on the negotiating table. The US confectionery industry urges that import regimes limiting access to world-price sugar, dairy and peanuts be aggressively liberalized.

Market access liberalization that includes elimination of high tariffs and non-tariff barriers could considerably increase US confectionery exports. Citing the NAFTA as an example, US confectionery exports to Mexico and Canada have increased 22% overall since implementation. If FTAA markets are further liberalized, we anticipate a comparable growth in exports to the region.

The Harmonized System tariff codes for our members’ finished products and intermediary products are noted below along with current applied tariff rates for imports into the US. For finished confectionery, US tariffs are 6% or less.

US Tariffs on Sugar Confectionery, Chocolate and Chocolate Confectionery Products

Product Includes HTS Codes 2002 U.S.
MFN Tariff
2002 U.S. Preferential Tariffs
Chewing Gum 1704.10 4% Duty Free
A,CA,E,IL,J,JO,MX
Sugar Confectionery 1704.90 0% - 5.6% Duty Free
A(+), CA,(D),E,IL,J,JO,MX
Bulk Chocolate 1806.20 In Quota:
0 - 10%

Out of Quota:
30.5¢ - 52.8¢/kg +
4.3% - 8.5%
In Quota:
Duty Free

Out of Quota:
30.5¢ - 52.8¢/kg
+
4.3% - 8.5%

A(*),CA,E,IL,J
Chocolate, Filled 1806.31 5.6% Duty Free
A,CA,E,IL,J,JO,MX
Chocolate, Unfilled 1806.32 6% Duty Free
A,CA,E,IL,J,JO,MX
Chocolate, Other 1806.90 6% Duty Free
A,CA,E,IL,J,JO,MX
Sweet Biscuits 1905.30 Duty Free Duty Free

Table Notes: Duty-free access is generally given to all GSP countries for imports of confectionery products. One exception is noted: Only Least Developed Countries receive duty-free access for candied nuts. Ranges indicate some tariff lines to the 8-digit level may offer variations in duty rates. Preferential duties may not apply to every tariff line.
 

II. SUMMARY OF THE US CONFECTIONERY INDUSTRY’S PRIORITIES

The US confectionery industry’s priorities in the FTAA Market Access negotiations support and complement the industry’s objectives in the Doha Round of the WTO negotiations, specifically -- increased access.

  • First, access to world-price commodities. We urge the US to enter these negotiations prepared to significantly liberalize domestic sugar, peanut and dairy programs that make the US domestic cost of these essential raw materials for the confectionery industry two to three times the world price. Long term inability to improve US confectionery industry access to world price raw materials, in particular sugar, has driven, and will continue to drive production outside of the US costing the US economy jobs and revenue. Manufacturers are left with few options when other countries can export lower cost confectionery to the US at zero or minimum duty.

  • Second and equally important, access for our members’ finished products exported to FTAA member countries at zero duty. We urge the member governments to enter the negotiations with the objective of eliminating high tariffs and non-tariff barriers to sugar confectionery, chocolate and chocolate confectionery products. Import duties on confectionery products can be as high as 65%, and on average are 19.9%. Confectionery from most FTAA countries already enter the United States duty free
     

III. THE US CONFENCTIONERY INDUSTRY SUPPORTS FREE AND FAIR TRADE

The US confectionery industry has made free trade and the maintenance of an open US market an operating principle for 20 years. US tariffs on NCA / CMA members’ products are among the lowest in the world and there are no quantitative restrictions on imports of finished confectionery into the United States. In addition, more than 140 developing and least developed countries enjoy duty free access to the US confectionery market through the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Of those receiving GSP benefits, 29 are FTAA member countries. Confectionery products exported from FTAA members Canada and Mexico benefit from duty free or reduced duty access to the United States via the NAFTA.

The industry has maintained this free trade stance in spite of excessive raw material costs for sugar, dairy and peanuts which result from US domestic price support programs and tariff and non-tariff barriers that block US industry access to these commodities at world prices. Our industry pays 2-3 times the world price for these key inputs, incurring hundreds of millions of dollars in additional cost each year.
 

IV. ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIALS

In order for US confectionery manufacturing facilities to remain competitive in both the domestic and world markets, we must have access to world price sugar, dairy and peanuts. We urge a systematic approach to the elimination of barriers to trade in these commodities globally and suggest that negotiators make full use of the FTAA negotiations as an impetus to liberalize import regimes, including the US import restraints on sugar, dairy and peanuts. Given that the Doha Round of WTO negotiations is to support increased market access for developing countries, liberalization for key raw material imports from FTAA members will progress that objective.

As the second largest user of sugar in the US, access to world-price sugar is important for the US confectionery industry. For 2001/02, world sugar exports are projected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 34.5 million metric tons, raw value. World production is projected at 126.8 million metric tons, raw value. Thus, over 27% of world production is exported. A higher percentage of sugar production is internationally traded than is the case for wheat (22% of 2001/02 world production), rice (6%), coarse grains (13%), and oilseeds (23%). Therefore, an international agricultural trade agreement that does not deal with sugar is close to a contradiction in terms.

According to USDA, the leading sugar-exporting nations for 2001/02 include two FTAA members: Brazil (9.50 million metric tons, raw value), the European Union (3.70), Australia (3.65), Thailand (3.55), Cuba (2.70), South Africa (1.50), Guatemala (1.19) and India (1.00).

Imports of sugar1 from FTAA members have steadily decreased since 1998. In year 2001, imports were down 3.5% from the previous year. Based on USITC data, the US sources raw cane sugar of HTS code 1701.11.10002 from 22 of the FTAA member countries.3 Annual production from these countries in 2001 totaled 33 million metric tons; exports totaled more than 12 million mt.4 However, because of the tariff rate quota on sugar, US imports were limited to 715,500 metric tons, which represents merely 2.2% of production and 5.8% of FTAA exports. US negotiators should be prepared to significantly increase access to the US market for these developing countries’ exports.
 

V. ACCESS FOR FINISHED CONFECTIONERY & INTERMEDIARY PRODUCTS

Our members increasingly rely on foreign markets to achieve their revenue and profitability goals. Market access improvements will be critical if our members are to take advantage of new export opportunities in rapidly expanding FTAA markets.

Tariffs

The industry’s objective is the total elimination of tariffs on chocolate, chocolate confectionery and sugar confectionery products. We support the elimination of duties on all cocoa and cocoa-containing products that are classified in Chapter 18 of the Harmonized System. Duty elimination for these products would benefit cocoa producing developing countries in South America. Such trade liberalization could also ultimately lead to increased consumer demand for chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products in markets around the world creating new opportunities for US exporters.

Secondly, we continue to support liberalization of all processed foods including chocolate, confectionery, and sweet biscuits. There are different approaches that can be used to achieve the final goal. The simplest is for countries to agree to a maximum rate for processed foods by a date certain, i.e. 5% by 2005. We are prepared to have all confectionery products included.

Tariffs in South America remain prohibitively high (10% - 65%) in at least half of the 33 markets. Bahamas and the Mercosur countries impose the highest tariff rates for confectionery imports. The average tariff in the region for confectionery is almost 20%.

Non-Tariff Barriers

There continue to be obstacles to US exports of confectionery products. While some of the regulatory practices identified are not trade barriers per se, they are being administered in such a way as to obstruct our members’ exports. Measures include:

  • Limitations on the use of internationally approved food colors and food additives as well as unique color declaration labeling formats can create barriers to trade, as experienced in Chile. NCA / CMA urges harmonization of approved colors and additives as well as product labeling formats. 
  • Pre-import product registration requirements as experienced in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Our members believe the responsibility for compliance with foreign market regulations should fall on the exporter. The US practice of market surveillance and enforcement has proven effective and should be an objective in the FTAA negotiations.
  • Excessive certification, inspection, and other requirements. As an example, confectionery exports to Peru, Colombia and Venezuela require inspection and consular stamps on documents. Ecuador requires an inspection before each shipment. Such regulations make it more difficult to arrange shipments and require more information than necessary to ensure confectionery products meet health and safety requirements.
  • Some members have highlighted intellectual property rights violations and concerns including piracy of brands, logos and trademarks. In Guatemala, an unrelated processed food company registered the trademark, logo and mascot of one NCA / CMA member. When contacted, the Guatemalan company that registered the brand insisted on $50,000 for the release of the brand. The member was eventually able to secure the release for $10,000. The entire process and negotiations delayed entrance into the market by more than two years. Similar experiences have been noted in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic.
  • Some of our members have informed NCA / CMA that shipments to Brazil of industrial / bulk chocolate have been returned due to expiry labeling requirements. Mandatory manufacture labeling and expiration date labeling on each shipment on bulk chocolate has limited our members’ ability to ship stock that is anything but the most recently produced. Codex Standards do not require use-by dating of intermediary products destined for industrial production. It is unclear why Brazil is requiring expiry dating on such products when they are not intended for consumer until further processed and packaged for retail sale. If there is an expiry dating requirement, against what shelf-life standard is Brazil applying the requirement? We urge that FTAA member countries avoid unnecessary labeling requirements for products that are destined for industrial use.

NCA / CMA have consistently urged the elimination of these obstacles in bilateral, regional and multilateral fora as appropriate. We view the FTAA Market Access negotiations as a critical venue to address these barriers with the goal of eliminating any redundant, costly and unnecessary requirements among all FTAA member countries, and maximizing export opportunities for our members. Access achieved in the FTAA should:

  • Allow US confectionery industry to export finished confectionery products with the absence of tariffs and regulatory barriers
  • Provide lesser developed source countries with improved access to the US market, particularly for sugar, peanuts and dairy.
  • Ensure that all FTAA members stand together in the WTO negotiations to achieve the elimination of export subsidies within 3 years.

NCA / CMA appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on the FTAA as negotiators prepare to further advance positions. We look forward to continuing to work with FTAA negotiators to ensure increased access to South American markets for our member companies’ confectionery products and access to world-priced essential commodities from the region.


1 Products of HTS Heading 1701 as reported by USITC Trade Website, Imports for Consumption measured in kilograms.
2 Cane sugar, raw, in solid form, not containing added flavoring or coloring matter, NESOI, described in Additional Note 5 (Chapter 17).
3 Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Kitts-Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay
4 Annual production for sugar, raw value, includes Latin America, South America, and Caribbean (excluding Cuba) and was compiled from the USDA Economic Research Service: “Sugar and Sweetener Situation and Outlook Yearbook”, June 2002.

 

 
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