By Chris Prentice
NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Forty-five U.S. lawmakers are pressing trade representative Michael Froman to boost U.S. sugar imports as talks over a Pacific trade agreement resume this week, ratcheting up pressure on a sticking point in prior rounds.
Led by Republican Representative Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania and Democrat Earl Blumenauer from Oregon, the legislators are urging Froman to seek a Trans-Pacific Partnership pact with "commercially meaningful liberalization" of sugar trade, according to a letter signed by the policymakers dated Tuesday.
The push comes as leaders try to conclude talks this week on a 12-country trade agreement that has been stalled by debate over greater access of some products, including sugar. ID:nNrm3X8Zvj
The United States and Australia have clashed over sugar, as Australia's cane industry seeks greater access to a U.S. market protected through a complicated system of import quotas.
The U.S. sugarcane and beet industry has opposed Australia's demands for 500,000 tonnes of import quota annually. Australia has rejected a U.S. offer to permit 152,000 tonnes. ID:nL3N10F1Q6
But the representatives argued in the letter that a "significant opening of access to sugar" would make the U.S. sugar market more competitive and lead to cheaper prices for shoppers and businesses.