[Law is not justice but process]

Ah, sugar subsidies. Another market triumph for the United States.

I would think, though, that a significant enough cost advantage would lead some to find a way to import alcohol. Contribute to enough campaign war-chests and anything can happen.

The cost advantage would probably be significant, as well. Land is much cheaper down there, as is labor. Overhead is much lower as there is no OSHA or EPA to speak of. Getting rid of waste would be much easier, as well. It comes down to the same trade issues as everything else: if we can buy it cheaper from another country, is it fair to make the American consumer pay more for the domestic product (either directly or through subsidies)?

[P-40]

if we can buy it cheaper from another country

I'm trying to remember the name of the speaker on a video that should be up at C-SPAN where they discuss sugar and ethanol from a trade perspective in detail; it gave me a headache but I'll post the link if I can find it.

I think the main problem was that it was sugar producers domestically that wanted the protections and made it harder to get sugar from places like Brazil or Mexico. Something like that anyway.