A quick history of the U. S. Sugar Act, which was first passed during Washington's presidency to protect the rum trade in New England. Fast forward to the Cuban Revolution in 1956 when one family controlled most of Cuba's sugar production. That family, the Fanjuls, fled to Spain and to the U.S., specifically Palm Beach FL. Today the Fanjul dynasty controls virtually all cane sugar grown, refined and marketed in the United states and a good portion of sugar beet refining and marketing. Think Domino and C&H among others.
If one were to Google Fanjul and could Google them post 1956, they would find that virtually every American president from JFK to W has socialized with and been the beneficiary of financial help from the Fanjul family.
The subject sugar subsidy is a gift that keeps on giving of perhaps $1.5 billion American tax dollars to maintain this monopoly owned and operated by again, one family. It is 100% unnecessary to protect any of our food supply. HOW SWEET IT IS!
Interesting, but I've often that the sugar tariff protects primarily cane sugar producers in Louisiana in modern times. That industry would have preceded any transplanted cuban sugar interests by many decades.
American Sugar Cane League
I don't know who the biggest producers in the US are now.