U.S. molasses ban revives long-running Canada-U.S. sugar dispute

The U.S. decision to ban Canadian molasses imports has reignited a longrunning trade fight over sugar, tariffs, and alleged smuggling. The move, set to take effect on Sept. 29, comes amid broader Trump administration restrictions on several Canadian products. American sugar producers have argued that some Canadian shipments are not pure molasses, but mixtures that include sugar and water and may be used to avoid U.S. tariff rules. Canadian company Sucro Can Sourcing, which has a major refinery in Hamilton, Ontario, rejects those claims and says it was unfairly targeted by the sugar lobby. The dispute has roots in earlier crossborder sugar cases and in the U.S. sugar system, which uses quotas, tariffs, and price supports to protect domestic producers. Industry groups on both sides are now using a USDA study and other filings to press their case, while U.S. officials have not publicly explained the ban in detail.