GOP senator rips Trump over sugar deal with Mexico

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) on Thursday voiced his opposition to the Trump administration’s agreement with Mexico on the sugar trade, saying the deal increases the costs for consumers.

“I disagree—the new sugar deal hikes prices for consumers even more. Here’s why," Toomey wrote on Twitter, quoting a tweet from President Trump and linking to his own remarks on the agreement. 

Trump early Thursday touted the deal on Twitter, saying it is “a very good one” for both countries.

“New Sugar deal negotiated with Mexico is a very good one for both Mexico and the U.S. Had no deal for many years which hurt U.S. badly,” Trump said. 

But Toomey, who hails from the state that is home to The Hershey Company, a chocolate manufacturer, argued the “deal actually makes the problem worse,” referring to current sugar prices.

In a speech earlier this month on the Senate floor, Toomey slammed the agreement, saying it is bad for American consumers and workers. 

“The fact is this is a bad deal for the United States. I am completely mystified as to why our Commerce Department would agree to it,” Toomey said at the time.

“It’s a bad deal for U.S. consumers, and we’re all consumers. It’s a bad deal for American workers. It completely fails to address the high price of sugar that we have in America today.”

Toomey, after the deal’s announcement, also said that it threatens nearly 40,000 jobs in the Keystone State.

The agreement, announced earlier this month in principle, would halt taxes on Mexico’s sugar imports coming into the U.S. The deal would increase the price of Mexican raw sugar while reducing the percentage of refined sugar that can be imported to the U.S.
http://thehill.com/policy/international/trade/340078-gop-senator-rips-trump-for-touting-sugar-trade-deal-with-mexico