In a move to stabilise sugar prices in the region, the European Commission is planning to suspend some duty-free sugar imports for at least one year, according to a report by Reuters.
In an interview with Bloomberg News, Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen said preparations for the proposal are underway and the plan could be placed before authorities in the coming weeks.
Hansen said around 700,000 tonnes of sugar are currently entering the European market under duty-free arrangements. Suspending these imports is expected to help stabilise both the market and sugar prices within the bloc.
The proposal follows earlier indications from the Commission in January that it was considering curbing duty-free imports to support European producers facing falling prices and increasing competition.
The move comes as sugar producers in the region have raised concerns over declining prices, which they say have been affected by rising imports and pressure in the global market.
