Leave refined sugar imports alone- JMEA

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (JMEA) on Tuesday served notice it would not tolerate any interference with the import policy for refined sugar, or any other input material, for that matter.

"The JMEA is steadfast in its resolve that we want to be able to import our raw materials at our own devices. We need to have the quality, quantity and the arrangements being left up to us. We do not want the Government interfering in the importation of our raw material," President of the JMEA Metry Seaga declared during the last press conference for the calendar year.

Members of the sugar industry have for decades accused manufacturers who benefit from tariff concession on the refined (granulated) sweetener of criminality. Despite claiming to have proof of manufacturers undermining the local sugar industry by diverting the refined product to the retail trade, they have never come forward with any evidence.

This is despite calls by Seaga for them to name and shame these criminals, with the assurance that the culprits would be expelled from the organisation. Now it has committed to working with the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) to work out a mutually satisfactory system.

Seaga explained: "We will continue to have discourse on how to treat the application of the 40 per cent CET (common external tariff) on refined sugar, given the claim by Belize that it is able to supply plantation white sugar. Closer to home, the JMEA continues to work with the SIA to develop a mechanism around the monitoring and importation of sugar."