Because the US government slaps a nearly 100% tarrif on imported sugar in order to keep prices artificially high for US sugar producers.
Thats why sugar is cheaper in Canada which produces absolutely none. Even after paying to import sugar it is still cheaper than domestic US sugar.
Doesn't it make you feel all warm inside knowing you are paying higher prices for everything that has sugar in it so that you can support a bunch of wealthy farmers?
Canada produces over 10% of it's own sugar from sugar beets (Alberta). Canadian farmers do not get a sugar beet subsidy The majority of cane is imported from Australia, South America and the Caribbean. Not Cuba.
Unfortunately, not all the farmers are wealthy, but yes, the tarrifs are obviously doing farm more harm than good.
What formed my initial question/confusion was that this situation reminded me of the prescription drug cartel - You can get the EXACT same prescription drugs in Canada for far less than in the US. I didn't know if the Sugar situation was similar or a totally different ball of wax...although in both cases, US consumers are getting the screw.