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Observer
a day ago
- Politics
- Observer
A handshake in orbit 50 years ago transformed the space race
Some 140 miles above France, American astronauts opened a spacecraft hatch and found themselves face to face with cosmonauts from the Soviet Union. 'Glad to see you,' Col. Alexei Leonov spoke in accented English to Brig. Gen. Thomas Stafford of NASA. 'Ah, hello, very glad to see you,' Stafford responded in his own accented Russian. The two men then shook hands. Today, Russian and American astronauts routinely share rides to the International Space Station, no matter the geopolitical conflict that divides their nations. But in the summer of 1975, seeing two men from rival nations greet each other in orbit across a bridge between their docked spacecraft was a powerful and unprecedented gesture witnessed by millions on the world spinning below. The handshake, which occurred 50 years ago on July 17, defined the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first international human spaceflight. That simple symbol of partnership between bitter competitors remains an enduring legacy of the mission. 'It's amazing to think that two opposed countries with different systems and cultures, essentially ready to destroy each other, can somehow cooperate and do this highly technical, complicated mission,' said Asif Siddiqi, a professor of history at Fordham University and an expert on Russian space history. A generation after the orbital handclasp, the Soviets and the United States would come together to build the ISS. The aging space outpost's days are finite, and there are no immediate plans for Russia and the U.S. to sustain their cooperation in human spaceflight. The U.S. also sees itself as competing with China for dominance in space. But experts like Siddiqi see reasons for hope on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz mission. 'Whenever people tell me that this would never happen today, I always think, Well, that's what people said in the late '60s,' Siddiqi said. 'Androgynous' Dock Early in the space age, as America raced to catch up to the Soviet Union, a partnership in space had been proposed. In September 1963, speaking before the United Nations General Assembly two months before his assassination, President John F. Kennedy floated a joint mission to the moon. 'Why, therefore, should man's first flight to the moon be a matter of national competition?' he asked. 'Surely we should explore whether the scientists and astronauts of our two countries — indeed of all the world — cannot work together in the conquest of space.' This dream was deferred, and the U.S. would overtake the Soviets in the moon race with the successful Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Oddly, the American moon landing may have created a new window for cooperation. Public support for the Apollo missions fell, and the program was cut short after the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. That left the U.S. space program without an immediate objective. In parallel, both nations' reputations were tarnished abroad, the Soviet Union by its invasion of Czechoslovakia, and America by its involvement in the Vietnam War. That created an additional motivation to jointly reassert each country's status atop the global hierarchy. 'They needed to lift themselves and cooperate to show the rest of the world: We are as super and as great as ever before. We're doing things which no country can do in a similar capacity,' said Olga Krasnyak, an associate professor of international relations at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow. This mutually recognized opportunity for prestige led to tentative talks between the country's officials in 1970. From the get-go, it was clear that the mission faced immense diplomatic, technical, and cultural obstacles. There was no smooth glide path to launch. 'How do we communicate with people who speak entirely different languages, and who think differently about engineering and problem-solving?' Brian C. Odom, NASA's chief historian, said. 'On paper, it seems easy. You launch, we launch, we come together, we shake hands, we go our separate ways. But making that happen, where you don't have five people dying in orbit, is incredibly difficult.' The sudden switch from enemies to partners, at least in this limited case, caused whiplash for the public and politicians alike (a scenario that was dramatized in the Apple TV alternative history series 'For All Mankind'). Zbigniew Brzezinski, who later served as Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, criticized the Nixon and Ford administrations for the mission, calling it a 'technological giveaway.' Soviet space officials, who had long worked in secrecy, had to overcome wariness about loosening the flow of information to an adversary. The country's diplomats had to ensure that plans could be discussed without divulging anything sensitive to national security. Both sides were suspicious of the safety of the other's flagship spacecraft. The three astronauts selected for Apollo 1 perished in a fire during a rehearsal in 1967, while the three cosmonauts of Soyuz 11 died in space in 1971 when their cabin depressurized. Snipes about the superiority of one side's spacecraft over the other rankled insiders of the mission. American astronauts were used to a much more hands-on guidance system with Apollo, whereas Soyuz was largely automatic and controlled from the ground. The vehicles even used different atmospheres in their interiors. Soyuz simulates the familiar conditions of Earth, with a nitrogen-oxygen air mixture and a pressure equivalent to our planet at sea level. Apollo, in contrast, used a pure oxygen atmosphere at a much lower pressure. This discrepancy was solved by the development of a docking module with airtight hatches at each end. Once the module connected the two craft, crew members from one vehicle could enter, ensuring that both hatches were closed while it pressurized to match conditions of the other side. When that process was complete, the hatch to the other vehicle could be opened, allowing crews to safely enter without risking 'the bends,' a condition caused by rapid depressurization. For this particular mission, the Soyuz was kept at a lower pressure than normal to ease transitions between vehicles. The docking module was also purposefully designed to be androgynous to ensure that neither spacecraft was perceived as 'female,' or passive. As the mission planners navigated these headaches, a deep and abiding friendship flourished between the astronauts and cosmonauts. The Apollo side, headed by Stafford, also included Donald 'Deke' Slayton and Vance Brand. Leonov flew on the Soyuz side with Valery Kubasov. The crews learned each other's languages, though Leonov jokingly called Stafford's drawling pronunciation 'Oklahomski.' They trained together at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston and Star City, the Russian space center outside Moscow. During these meetings, the space travelers hunted, drank and partied together. They shared steam baths and got into snowball fights. The two commanders remained particularly close for the rest of their lives: Leonov helped Stafford adopt two children from Russia, and Stafford gave a eulogy in Russian (or, rather, Oklahomski) at Leonov's funeral in 2019. The crews were 'setting an example, by being friendly and demonstrating cooperation,' said Brand, the last living member of the mission, in a 2000 interview with Rebecca Wright of NASA's Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. 'We actually came to have a very close relationship with the Soviet crew,' he added. Strawberry Juice and Borscht Against all odds, the crews finally reached their launch pads during the summer of 1975. On July 15, the Soyuz crew blasted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, followed by the Apollo crew, which launched about seven hours later from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The lead-up to docking was relatively smooth, though the Apollo crew discovered a 'super Florida mosquito' had stowed away with them, and Stafford joked that a juice spill had turned the Apollo into a 'strawberry-colored spacecraft.' The spaceships successfully docked at 12:12 p.m. Eastern time, July 17, high above the Atlantic Ocean. Hours later, the historic handshake was broadcast live to millions of viewers. The mission even inspired a cocktail called the Link Up, with equal parts Southern Comfort and vodka mixed with lime and ice, served at London's Savoy Hotel. The crew spent the next two days exchanging gifts, dining together (including borscht toasts), listening to music, and conducting experiments. The ships parted ways on July 19. After all the mutual worries about spacecraft safety, it was Apollo that ended up experiencing a serious incident, as toxic fumes filled the capsule during reentry. The brand lost consciousness, and the crew was hospitalized after splashdown. Despite this frightening conclusion of the mission, the astronauts quickly recovered and the mission was hailed as a diplomatic and technical success. 'A Little Bit Messy' A second Apollo-Soyuz mission was planned, but it never panned out. U.S.-Soviet tensions rose again during the late 1970s and into the 1980s. The countries did not directly team up again for years. However, both superpowers fostered new collaborations with their allies. During the 1980s, NASA space shuttle crews included Canadian, European, and Japanese astronauts, while the Soviet Union launched cosmonauts who came from Cuba, Poland, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and other countries. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Americans and Russians again joined forces in space, first aboard the Mir space station in the early 1990s. The American-Russian partnership is now the backbone of the ISS, which has remained continuously inhabited since the year 2000. That outpost is in its twilight years. Russia is discussing building its own separate successor space station, and the U.S. is seeding commercial outposts in orbit — efforts that can make Apollo-Soyuz seem like a distant memory. But Krasnyak, the Russian international relations expert, said that the legacy of this mission, and cooperative space exploration in general, remains important to Russians 50 years later. Whether the U.S. and Russia partner on future human spaceflights or not, she noted that the two powers continue to be world leaders shaping international deliberations on space. Siddiqi, the historian of Russian spaceflight, views the 1975 U.S.-Soviet mission as a forerunner for the complex international partnerships that characterize modern spaceflight, even if it's in a 'roundabout way.' 'It was a little bit messy, but the road leads back to Apollo-Soyuz,' he said. 'Other historians would see it differently, as a kind of rupture or as a one-off, but I see a lot of continuities.' Odom, NASA's chief historian, does not see Apollo-Soyuz as a direct progenitor of the ISS, or of other subsequent space collaborations. From his perspective, the mission's legacy is grounded more in the context of a time when two feuding powers extended an olive branch into orbit, with repercussions for how their citizens viewed each other back on Earth. 'The people who were involved come away from it thinking about what cooperation really might mean,' Odom said. 'If we can cooperate with the Soviet Union in this way, we can cooperate with anyone.' The direct communication and interpersonal relationships were a powerful spinoff from the mission, Odom added. 'The thing that they come away with is that 'oh, you're human beings just like us,' he said. 'You're not the monsters that we imagined or feared that you would be. You're just people trying to do a job and go about your daily life.' This article originally appeared in
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Limpopo still remembers Mandela
How did you spend Mandela Day? The late former President Nelson Mandela might have passed away nearly 12 years ago, but his name and legacy are still remembered by both young and old in Polokwane, Limpopo, where many communities spent Mandela Day's 67 minutes cleaning the streets, patching potholes, and cutting shrubs at street corners. Speaking at the 67 minutes of work contribution on Mandela Day, Polokwane Mayor Makoro John Mpe said that in November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) paid tribute to Nelson Mandela by adopting a resolution to make the international community aware of his humanitarian work. The resolution, Mpe said, declared 18 July, Mandela's birthday, the Nelson Mandela International Day. 'It was also on that day that the assembly called on the people of the world to honour him by helping their communities, improving their lives and changing the lives of one another for the better by contributing to the community without expecting anything in return. 'It is through this declaration that Polokwane municipality is today joining the world to improve our communities by dedicating our time and energy by cleaning our streets and environment, spending time with our children, youth, and pensioners on this day in honour of our father,' he said. The cleaning and patching of potholes began at 10am from Polokwane CBD to Zebediela Street, connecting Nelson Mandela Drive and Matlala Road in Polokwane Extension 44. During the day, trees were pruned, shrubs were trimmed to size, potholes were patched, and streetlights were repaired. To the surprise of many, about 100 people who joined the mayor on the cleaning spree were officially appointed for the Extended Public Works' Program (EPWP) on the spot. Mpe said the new recruits will clean streets and parks in Polokwane, collect litter, and plant trees around the city. 'Mandela loved people. He loved children and the pensioners, and most importantly, he loved you. But he also loved a better life for all his people and a clean environment. That is why I am giving you this job today in honour of our dearest father- Rolihlahla Mandela,' he added.. Mayor on the move At midday, Mpe proceeded to a sports complex nearing completion in Ward 8. He said the municipality has four similar sports complexes in the area, built for communities to break monotony by playing sports and driving children, whom Mandela loved so much, off the streets. 'Because a child in sports is a child out of crime, and cleanliness is close to goodness,' he said. By 1 pm, Mpe, who doubles up as Peter Mokaba ANC regional chair, proceeded to the New Peter Mokaba Stadium where he enjoyed a meal with municipal employees and pensioners from communities under the Polokwane municipality. The Citizen interviewed a few pensioners about what they knew about Mandela and his humanitarian work. 'Mandela loved children and senior citizens. He was a good citizen, a man among men, a dedicated community worker and a father indeed. That is how I know Mandela,' said 75-year-old pensioner, Maphuma Gilbert Ramohlale. Another pensioner, Koko Francinah Mamabolo, 71, said there are five things that best describe Nelson Mandela: 'Dedication, hard work, transparency, patience, and a father of the nation.'
Leaders
3 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Meet Noof Alotaishan: Saudi Trailblazer Steps into Historic UNGA Role
Noof Alotaishan has achieved a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia's diplomatic representation by becoming the first Saudi female diplomat to be seconded to the Office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly. New Diplomatic Breakthrough Alotaishan, an alumna of Keele University in the United Kingdom, has made a real difference in the Saudi diplomatic landscape and shed light on the evolving role of Saudi women in international representation. Her groundbreaking appointment has received widespread acclaim on social media by pioneering regional and international figures. In a message shared on social media, Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, congratulated Alotaishan on her 'amazing' accomplishment. The princess also noted that Alotaishan's presence in this role represents a diplomatic breakthrough for Saudi women unleashing new horizons for their representation in diplomatic spheres all over the world. Noof Alotaishan is the first Saudi woman diplomat to work in the office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly 79th Session. Amazing! @ksamissionun 🇸🇦✨@UN — Reema Bandar Al-Saud (@rbalsaud) October 10, 2024 'When I was told that I was the first Saudi female diplomat to be seconded to the President's Office, it felt quite surreal. The Saudi Ambassador to the United States congratulated me and told me they wanted to celebrate the news, and it was a very proud moment when she posted a photo of me on her social media channels, which all of my family saw,' she said. Ray of Hope for Saudi Women Noof Alotaishan Currently, Alotaishan is representing Saudi Arabia at the 79th session of the General Assembly, taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York. She expressed hope that her position will serve as a source of inspiration for Saudi women seeking to secure careers in diplomacy and international affairs. 'Hopefully my experience can help other women in Saudi Arabia believe in themselves and think 'I can do it, too'. There is an idea that is a male dominated world, and females won't be supported but I have been supported by my Ambassador H.E. Abdulaziz Alwasil as well as my male colleagues, so it is a mentality more than facts,' Alotaishan added. Professional Career Path In her current position, Alotaishan serves as an advisor to the Political, Peace, and Security Affairs team at the United Nations, with a particular focus on the Middle East issues, including Gaza and Palestine. Interestingly, she has recently achieved a notable career milestone when her contributions were reflected in remarks delivered by H.E. Philemon Yang, President of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, during his address on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. 'It makes me happy when I can give an opinion based on my experience, knowledge and background and you see it making a difference. For example, sometimes I'll look at something as a person from the Middle East and I'll be able to adjust the wording to be more relevant to the community, and you see people listen and change it,' she said. Prior to joining the UN team, Alotaishan served for more than two years as a diplomat at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, she enriched her career portfolio through a year‑long lectureship in public law at Al‑Asala Colleges along with earlier work as a legal researcher. Enriching Academic Journey Noof Alotaishan Alotaishan obtained a Bachelor's degree in Law from Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University in Khobar. In 2019, she got a Master's degree in International Law and Politics from Keele University. Reflecting on her time at Keele, she said: 'When I came to Keele in 2018 it was my first time living alone, which was quite a big experience for me. I was lucky that I had and still have a supportive family especially my dad, he was supportive of me studying abroad, knowing it will play a huge role in my growth and future career.' Alotaishan described Keele university as 'perfect' and labeled its courses as 'highly rated'. 'I always tell people now that Keele is one of the best options in the UK because it has a beautiful campus, but it can also be quiet, so you can focus on your education,' she added. Noof Alotaishan's academic journey Moreover, she has earned numerous licenses and certifications and completed various courses, particularly in business, international relations, and political economy from The London School of Economics and Political Science. Saudi Arabia's Transformation toward Inclusive Diplomacy Noof Alotaishan's secondment comes amid a revolutionized transformation within Saudi Arabia's diplomatic scene, which has witnessed a notable surge in the appointment of women to senior foreign service positions in recent years. This advanced approach mirrors the Kingdom's dedication to empowering women and fostering their representation across key sectors in line with the Saud Vision 2030. To support Saudi women representation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also made bold strides to appoint female ambassadors, consuls, as well as envoys to prominent international posts. All these efforts and initiatives represent a decisive move toward inclusive diplomacy in Saudi Arabia. Related Topics: Abeer Bint Shrgi Al-Anazi: Trailblazer for Saudi Women in Clean Energy, Academic Excellence Saudi Women Participation in Workforce Hits 36.2% INTERVIEW: Vision 2030 Has Unleashed Saudi Women's Potential: Princess Noura Al Saud Short link : Post Views: 8
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
A poor, underdeveloped country with a population less than Dallas is giving Trump massive headache with illegal migrants
Synopsis Eswatini, a small African kingdom, has reversed its decision to accept five migrants deported by the United States. Initially agreeing to President Trump's conditions, Eswatini will now facilitate the return of migrants to their home countries, including Vietnam, Jamaica, and Cuba. This decision follows concerns about human rights and accusations of exploitation, sparking condemnation from opposition groups. AP FILE - Eswatini's King Mswati III addresses the Climate Action Summit in the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Sept. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) The tiny African kingdom of Eswatini announced Wednesday (July 16, 2025) that it would repatriate the five migrants who had been deported there by the United States. This development comes as a big issue for the Trump administration, as the African nation, which has a population less than many US cities, including Dallas, initially agreed to US President Donald Trump's conditions and was ready to accept the illegal immigrants, but now it is saying that these migrants will be sent back to their country of Africa's 39th largest economy, has a population less than that of Dallas. Its population size is 1.2 million people, while Dallas has a population of over 1.3 million. American officials said on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) that the migrants' home countries had refused to accept them. The migrants came from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen, and Cuba and had been serving time in American prisons for serious offenses, according to the Department of Homeland government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said in a statement Wednesday that the governments of her country and the United States, together with the International Organization for Migration, will "facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin."The International Organization for Migration said that it had no involvement in the removal of the migrants from the United States and had not been asked to provide any support with repatriation. The Trump administration has worked aggressively to broker deals with international partners willing to take deportees. Legal experts have challenged the deportations because the migrants could be subject to mistreatment and the Supreme Court decision, immigration officials acted quickly to implement new regulations that allow the government to carry out third-country deportations in as little as six hours, even without assurances that the migrants will be safe. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is tucked between South Africa and Mozambique and has one of Africa's last ruling monarchies. The kingdom is divided between those who praise its adherence to tradition and those who argue that the lavish lifestyle of King Mswati III stands in painful contrast to the poverty afflicting many of the country's 1.2 million to World Eswatini's GDP forecast is $5 billion in 2024 and $4.8 billion projected for 2025 (current market prices). This Eswatini GDP growth forecast for 2024 and 2025 reflects an estimated growth rate of 4.2%.The economy of Eswatini has grown at an average annual growth rate of 2.8% in the last four years and is ranked the 39th largest economy in Africa, ahead of Dallas, there are also several other US cities that have a population greater than Eswatini. These include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Miami, among others. Eswatini's economy is driven mainly by the services sector, which makes up over half of the country's economic output. Manufacturing, especially sugar production, along with agriculture, mining, and construction, also plays big roles. Eswatini depends heavily on South Africa for both trade and imports, with about 65% of exports and 75% of imports linked to its citizens of Eswatini and foreign governments have also raised concerns about the country's human rights record, accusing the government of using excessive, sometimes lethal, force against people who oppose the king. Those opposed to the monarchy were quick to condemn the arrival of the deportees."This is appalling," said Lioness Sibande, the secretary-general of the Swaziland Peoples Liberation Movement, an opposition group. She described the move as an example of the West's long history of exploiting African nations. "The West is always disrespecting us as Africans and thinking we are their dumpsite," she her statement, Mdluli, the government spokesperson, sought to temper the concerns of Eswatini citizens. She said the deportees were being held in isolation units at correctional decision to take migrants from the United States came after months of talks that included "rigorous risk assessments and careful consideration for the safety and security of citizens," she said. "The nation is assured that these inmates pose no threat to the country or its citizens." Mdluli added that she could not reveal what Eswatini received in return for taking the migrants because the terms of the agreement with the United States remain classified.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Why Coca-Cola in America may soon taste like the one in India
US President Trump says Coca-Cola will return to using real cane sugar in the US, replacing high-fructose corn syrup for the first time since the 1980s. Cane sugar is used for Coca-Cola in other countries like India. Mexico is the largest exporter of raw cane sugar to the US. The move ties into his administration's health push read more US President Donald Trump sips Diet Coke from his wine glass after a toast, during a luncheon for world leaders at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US, September 25, 2018. File Image/Reuters United States President Donald Trump has announced that Coca-Cola will begin using real cane sugar in its US beverages, replacing the high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that has dominated domestic soda production since the mid-1980s. The move, according to Trump, came after direct discussions with company executives and aligns with broader health goals set by his administration. 'I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,' Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!' The beverage company offered a guarded confirmation of the development. 'We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon,' a company spokesperson said. However, key details — including how quickly cane sugar would be introduced or whether HFCS would be entirely phased out — remain unclear. This announcement positions the Trump White House directly within one of the most enduring debates in American nutrition and food policy: the role and health impact of various types of sweeteners, particularly — HFCS versus cane sugar. Trump's fondness for Diet Coke — which contains aspartame rather than either sugar or HFCS — is no secret. A White House staff member from the presidential food service pours a Diet Coke for US President Donald Trump before the start of a luncheon for world leaders at the United Nations during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US, September 25, 2018. File Image/Reuters In January, Coca-Cola presented him with a commemorative Diet Coke bottle. The US' desire for 'Mexican Coke' Coca-Cola's original formula used cane sugar as its sweetening agent, a practice that was consistent well into the 20th century. But during the late 1970s and early 1980s, certain factors led to a transformation in how American beverages were sweetened. A rising global sugar market, US government quotas and tariffs on imported sugar, and expanding subsidies for domestic corn created an environment where HFCS emerged as a cheaper alternative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By 1984, Coca-Cola had fully transitioned to using HFCS in the United States. While the controversial 'New Coke' product came and went during the 1980s, the return of 'Coca-Cola Classic' did not mark a return to cane sugar. Instead, HFCS remained the standard sweetener in the US, even as cane sugar continued to be used in Coca-Cola products sold internationally. In countries like Mexico, where sugar tariffs are less restrictive and corn subsidies are not as entrenched, Coca-Cola retained its original cane sugar formula. Over time, 'Mexican Coke' became a sought-after product in the US for consumers who perceived it to have a superior taste. The glass-bottled, cane sugar–based soda developed a cult following, with limited-edition 'throwback' versions occasionally launched domestically. The preference for cane sugar has even influenced niche markets like kosher food. Coca-Cola's Kosher for Passover version, easily identifiable by its yellow caps, uses cane sugar instead of HFCS to meet religious dietary restrictions. How the US corn lobby will be affected Trump's intervention has broader ramifications that reach beyond beverage formulation. HFCS is derived from corn, an industry heavily concentrated in the Midwestern states of Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska. These states are key players in both agricultural policy and presidential politics. Iowa, in particular, holds disproportionate influence due to its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Corn refiners like Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Ingredion have benefitted from decades of farm subsidies and favourable legislation. The announcement by Trump caused immediate ripples in financial markets, with shares of ADM and Ingredion dropping by 6.3 per cent and 8.9 per cent, respectively, in after-hours trading. Meanwhile, the US sugar trade is governed by a tariff quota system that restricts the amount of sugar imported duty-free, keeping prices for domestic sugar higher and supporting sugar growers, particularly in Florida and Louisiana. This system complicates any wholesale shift from corn-based sweeteners to imported cane sugar, which remains more expensive on the US market due to these trade barriers. How dependent is the US on sugar imports In 2023, the United States imported 722,651,000 kilogrammes of raw cane sugar from Mexico alone, valued at $570.8 million, making Mexico the largest source of US cane sugar imports that year. The US also received significant sugar imports from countries including Brazil, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and others. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the total amount of sugar imported during the 2022–23 fiscal year reached 3.61 million tonnes, representing roughly 26.8 per cent of total sugar use in the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US sugar demand was projected to hit 12.56 million tonnes in 2024, with domestic production estimated at 9.22 million tonnes. This gap reinforces America's role as one of the largest sugar importers globally, even while remaining a top-five producer. The anticipated carryover of 1.72 million tonnes suggests a stable stocks-to-use ratio of around 13.5 per cent, which is within the USDA's target range of 13.5 per cent – 15.5 per cent. Any structural shift to more cane sugar–based production would inevitably place additional pressure on these trade flows. 'Make America Healthy Again' Trump's announcement complement the broader goals of his Health and Human Services Department under US Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has launched a campaign under the slogan 'Make America Healthy Again.' This initiative seeks to tackle chronic illness through changes to food, water, and environmental safety, with a particular focus on reducing exposure to synthetic additives and processed ingredients. According to a March press release from HHS, the initiative aims to 'end America's epidemic of chronic illness by focusing on safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins.' Although Kennedy has condemned HFCS in the past, he has also expressed general opposition to sugar consumption. 'Sugar is poison,' Kennedy stated at a public event earlier this year, declining to distinguish between sources such as cane or corn. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This public health campaign recently notched a major agreement with 40 American ice cream producers, including Turkey Hill and Schwoeppe Dairy, who committed to phasing out petroleum-based artificial food dyes like Red No. 3, Yellow 5, Blue 1, and others by the end of 2027. Collectively, these producers account for over 90 per cent of the ice cream sold in the US. Despite these developments, the science on HFCS versus cane sugar remains inconclusive. A December 2023 article from Healthline noted that both sweeteners have 'similar effects on a person's health,' and that both are potentially harmful when consumed in excess. This undercuts the perception that a shift from HFCS to cane sugar is automatically a health win for consumers. California Governor Gavin Newsom reacted sardonically on X, posting: 'Oh thank god! I've totally forgotten about the Epstein files now!' This was a reference to the controversy surrounding the Trump administration's previous vow to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier this month, federal authorities reversed its position saying that there was no list of high-profile individuals suspected to have been involved in Epstein's crimes. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
