Senate Rejects Bid to Buy More Philippine Sugar
The Senate on Saturday rejected a proposal for the United States to buy more sugar from the Philippines after opponents of the measure said it would help only a few wealthy families aligned with President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
The proposal was defeated by a vote of 69-23. It would have required an annual increase of about 3% in U.S. purchases of Philippine sugar.
Sens. John Melcher (D-Mont.), chief sponsor of the proposal, and Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) asked the Senate to support the increase as a way to help the troubled Philippine economy.
“I’m not voting for Marcos, I’m voting for the Philippines,” Inouye said.
Other senators said poor Filipino sugar farmers would not benefit from increased U.S. purchases.
“It makes no sense for the U.S. to be rewarding President Marcos and his friends with bigger sugar quotas, at least until he undertakes fundamental political reforms,” said Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.).
The Philippine quota has been slashed in recent years by the Reagan Administration, which opposed the proposal. Under a quota announced in September, the Philippines will be allowed to ship 231,660 short tons of sugar to the United States in 1986, down from 342,900 short tons in 1985.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
