By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
As if the honey industry doesn't have enough problems with the mysterious disappearing bee syndrome, now it has to compete with cheaper Chinese imports. The prob: To avoid tariffs and anti-dumping laws, China mislabels honey as "sweetener" and sells through other countries like India, according to Democratic New York Sen. Charles Schumer. "We call it honey laundering," says Schumer.
He says China avoids $100 million a year in fees by laundering its honey through other countries. What Schumer wants: China to stop laundering honey and U.S. officials to create a federal "pure honey" standard that would bar some Chinese honey, which he says is often tainted with antibiotics. It's a huge market. The United States produces less than half the honey it consumes. [See which industries give Schumer the most campaign cash.]
- Check out our gallery of Whispers political caricatures.
- Want your Whispers first? Check out U.S. News Weekly.
Reader Comments Read all comments (3)
buy tamiflu without prescription of 6:43AM June 29, 2010
Rick of PA 2:22PM June 25, 2010
De Suggs of FL 11:09AM June 19, 2010