Two of the largest sugar refiners in the southeast United States are seeking a merger but the U.S. Justice Department is objecting. The Department says that would leave just two refiners in the region controlling "an overwhelming majority of refined sugar sales." The refiners complain that the Justice Department doesn’t understand how sugar refining works. The refiners may be correct because if antitrust lawyers understood how the U.S. sugar program works, they would classify the entire minimum marketing price to be harmful to consumers.  U.S. consumers pay more for sugar than in other major producing countries, including in France and Germany. Despite higher prices per capita consumption continues to rise. Since sugar is consid...

TAGS – Softs, North America