Brazil, Australia to fight any Indian sugar export subsidy

SAO PAULO: Brazilian and Australian sugar industry groups are working together with their respective governments to prepare a formal complaint to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over any possible sugar export subsidy by India, a top Brazilian sugar official told Reuters.

Brazil and Australia view any subsidy by India, set to take over as the world’s largest sugar producer this year, as a grave threat to a recent price recovery, Eduardo Leao, executive director at Brazil’s cane industry group Unica, said in an interview.

The two countries reached a consensus regarding the need to act at the WTO level if India moves to provide an export subsidy to sugar producers, Leao told Reuters on late Tuesday. Analysts and sugar traders are expecting such a move by India as the country would be willing to put in the market a large local surplus built after a record crop this year, and amid expectations for another big output in the coming season.

“We have heard comments that India could launch a export subsidy,” Leao said. ”It is not admissible, we would seek an action from the Brazilian government,” he added.

Raw sugar prices in New York recovered slightly in the last days since slumping to a 10-year low of 9.91 cents on Aug. 22 as a twoyear global supply surplus and massive fund short position pressured values.

There was no immediate comment from the Indian trade ministry.

Indian officials have earlier said the country’s sugar exports do not violate WTO rules as New Delhi does not give any subsidy for overseas sales. India rather gives production subsidy to its cane growers. The Unica director said there are talks going on with Australian sugar industry representatives for a joint strategy at the WTO if the need arises.