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June 4, 2003 The Honorable Donald L. Evans Secretary of Commerce U.S. Department of Commerce 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20230 Dear Secretary Evans: I am writing with regard to the Partnership for Prosperity Entrepreneurial Workshop scheduled for June 9-10 in San Francisco. It is my understanding that you will speak at this conference. I believe this conference will provide a good opportunity for you to raise an issue with your Mexican counterparts of great concern to corn farmers in Indiana, which is the continuing application of the tax of up to 20 percent on soft drinks containing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This tax has harmed both HFCS manufacturers and corn producers in the United States, particularly in Indiana, where Hoosiers produced 631.6 million bushels of corn in 2002, a decrease of 29% from 2001 levels. The dispute regarding sales of sweetener on both sides of the border has lingered for many years to the great detriment of corn producers in the United States. I hope that you will use the opportunity of the Partnership for Prosperity Entrepreneurial Workshop to stress the importance of resolving this issue to Mexican officials attending the conference, and I urge you to work towards a quick resolution to this ongoing dispute. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, Richard G. Lugar Chairman U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations For more information on the corn refining industry, visit the Corn Capsules newsletter page. 
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