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The billion dollar war behind U.S. rum

Planet Money

CHAPTER

The Rum Wars: A Battle for Subsidies and Economic Survival

This chapter explores the fierce competition between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands over rum industry subsidies, highlighting the lobbying efforts by Puerto Rican politicians to reform federal programs. The escalation of this rivalry ultimately led Puerto Rico to increase its subsidies in a bid to keep pace with the Virgin Islands, perpetuating a cycle of competition for federal funds.

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