The Great EU Sugar Scam: How Europe’s sugar regime is devastating livelihoods in the developing world

Overview

European consumers and taxpayers are paying to destroy livelihoods in developing countries. Under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU has emerged as the world’s largest exporter of white sugar. Subsidies and tariffs generate vast profits for big sugar processors and large farmers – and vast surpluses that are dumped on world markets. Smallholder farmers and agricultural labourers in poor countries suffer the consequences. Oxfam is calling for an immediate end to EU sugar exports and improved market access for the poorest countries.