HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 401 Draft 01 1980-1984County of Hawaii—State of Hawaii
Resolution No. 401 82
WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan by executive order
proclaimed levying an import quota on cane sugar, setting
220,000 tons to be imported for the period May ll.to June 30,
1982, from foreign countries; and
WHEREAS, the President of the United States is expected
to set a quota for the period, July to October with an
announcement to be made by June 15, 1982, and quarterly
thereafter; and
WHEREAS, the present import quota ranges from less than
1 percent and up to 17.5 percent from the 48 importing nations,
who are presently receiving up to 27 cents per pound of sugar
from their respective countries, enabling them to dump the
surplus in the U. S. market, in some cases below 9 cents per
pound; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Sugar Industry reported their 1981
loss at $85 million with an announcement of permanent shutdown
in sugar operations at Puna Sugar Company, leaving 500 workers
out of jobs; and
WHEREAS, the Sugar Act of 1934 which expired in 1974, sets
quotas for both domestic and foreign import which stabilized
the sugar price and supply without any cost to the consumer
with reasonable prices; and
WHEREAS, the President of the United States had no choice
but to pay out $400 million from the Credit Commodity Corp.to
the domestic cane sugar industry in compliance with the recently
enacted price support to sugar or to institute quota to foreign
import with the expectation of stabilizing the sugar price around
20 cents per pound; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Suqar Industry estimates the cost of
producing a pound of sugar in Hawaii ranges from 15--V2cents to
24 cents per pound for year 1982, causing hardship to some
plantations and profits toothers; and
WHEREAS, the Independent U. S. Cane Sugar Refiners who are
importing cheap sugar from foreign sources are diligently engagina_
to stop the implementation of the sugar quota proclaimed by the
President by filing an injunction with the U. S. Court of
International Trade in New York, prohibiting the implementation
of the President's proclamation, if successful would nail the
coffin to the domestic cane sugar growers in the United States.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE
COUNTY OF HAWAII that it extends its heartfelt thanks and
appreciation to President Reagan for setting a reasonable
quota on the importation of foreign sugar in order to protect
the consumer and the domestic sugar industry.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that our Congressional delegation
in Washington be requested to continuously pursue the enactment
of a permanent Sugar Act which would stabilize the supply and
price that we pay for sugar thereby allowing the domestic
industry to be able to plan for their future.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of
Hawaii be instructed to remit conies of this resolution to the
President of the United States and to our Congressional delegation
in Washington.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 23rd day of_ June , 1982.
INTRODUCED BY:
CO ILP?EP? ER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
ROLL CALL VOTE
COUNTY COUNCIL AYES NOES A/E
County of Hawaii
Dahlberg X
Hilo, Hawaii
De Luz, III X
Domingo x
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to Fujii x
the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on Hale x
June 23, 1982 Kawahara x
............................................................................. Lai x
ATTEST: Schutte x
Chr. Yamashiro X
9 0 0
Reference:
- 3 M.B. No.
COUNTY CLE AIR AN & P IDING OFFICER 4-01 62
RESOLUTION NO