As American cane and beet farmers began harvesting this year's crop in late September, the United States had 1.5 million tons of leftover sugar on its market from the previous crop year. This surplus sugar represents 13 percent of the country’s annual demand and is available in addition to the sugar that is already being marketed from the new crop.

To put the 1.5 million tons into perspective, it is enough to give every American two five-pound bags of sugar on top of what they are already consuming.

Globally, things are a bit different.

For the past two years, global sugar demand has outstripped global supplies by about 16 million tons, the International Sugar Organization (ISO) recently found.

Large increases in demand from emerging economies, combined with adverse weather conditions have led to the shortages and subsequent spike in global prices, according to the ISO.

In Europe, for example, shortages have been widely reported. Most recently, major food manufacturers predicted a 1.2 million ton shortage in the region this year—its second straight year of supply deficits.

Luther Markwart, chairman of the American Sugar Alliance, says that these global supply issues have put upward pressure on domestic sugar prices, but thanks to U.S. sugar policy, we have more than enough sugar to go around.

“Congress should be commended for designing a sugar policy that ensures ample domestic stocks and doesn’t cost taxpayers anything,” he said.

Sugar policy has operated without taxpayer cost since 2002 and is projected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to remain no cost through at least 2021.

Despite its zero-cost price tag, some U.S. candy companies are aggressively lobbying lawmakers to eliminate the policy, Markwart noted.

“That would be foolish,” he said of the food manufacturers’ attempts to essentially replace domestic production with cheaper, subsidized sugar imports.

“There’s not a lot of quality sugar to import, so they’re setting themselves and our country’s food supply up for failure,” he said. “Unlike their counterparts in other countries, U.S. confectioners aren’t having problems sourcing their main ingredient. Not to mention, they have been prospering since the current no-cost policy took hold in 2008.”

Production of candy in the United States has jumped by 2.5 percent since 2008, according to U.S. Census data, and confectioners have been posting record sales and profits.

“America should be thankful to have such a successful policy in place,” Markwart concluded. “Some countries facing shortages are looking to the U.S. policy as a model, and best of all, it’s one of the few policies out there without a government cost.”