WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- President Bush has exempted U.S. sugar growers from a free trade deal with Australia, the Financial Times reported Wednesday.
Bush made the final decision himself to exclude sugar from the free trade agreement completed with Australia last weekend, according to administration and agricultural industry officials.
The White House decision shores up the president's electoral prospects in key states and avoids a bruising election-year trade fight in Congress.
But it also raises anew old questions about the administration's willingness to stand up to domestic lobbies that oppose free trade.
The sugar industry is concentrated in Florida, the most closely fought state in the 2000 election, and can rally farmers in both the South and Midwest.
The industry is also a large donor to Bush's re-election effort. Jose Fanjul, president of Florida Crystals, is one of just 165 donors to have raised at least $200,000 for the 2004 campaign.
Robert Coker of US Sugar is among the 251 donors who have raised at least $100,000.
