Coca-Cola Plans Cane Sugar Launch After Trump Endorsement, U.S. Sugar Policy Impact

President Trump has urged Coca-Cola to replace high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in its U.S. soft drinks, prompting the company to announce it will launch a cane sugar version this fall as a complement to existing products. While some consumers and Trump himself prefer the taste of cane sugar, scientific experts note that the health differences between cane sugar and corn syrup are minimal, with excessive consumption of either being unhealthy. The U.S. sugar industry benefits from significant government protectionism, including tariffs and quotas that keep domestic sugar prices much higher than global levels, costing consumers and benefiting producers with billions in subsidies annually. Trump's administration has expanded such supports, tightening import restrictions and increasing price guarantees, which has long bolstered the sugar sector politically and economically. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized corn syrup as a contributor to obesity and diabetes, aligning with Trump's push for less processed ingredients in foods. However, nutrition experts argue that both cane sugar and corn syrup contain similar fructose-glucose ratios, and the health impact depends more on consumption amounts than the sweetener type itself.