Stop TPP Protections for Big Tobacco
The U.S. has a rare opportunity this week to rein in the tobacco industry, and assert its mandate to protect and save lives, while proudly exercising cross-border diplomacy. The U.S. Trade Representative should accept a proposal to carve protections for Big Tobacco out of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a mega-trade deal among 12 Pacific Rim nations, including the U.S.
Americans generally like breathing smoke-free at bars, restaurants, offices, airplanes and elevators. The tobacco industry has noticed, and they're not happy about it. Under present trade rules, predatory tobacco corporations have new global rights to challenge important tobacco control laws and regulations in the U.S. and elsewhere that help people quit smoking, and keep kids from getting addicted, like a ban on clove cigarettes, and limitations on advertising. The TPP would perpetuate and extend these trade rules and their threats to health.
Malaysia's chief negotiator last week proposed the only effective solution: Carve out tobacco control regulations and laws, and also remove tobacco products, from being covered by the TPP.
CPATH and important medical and public health allies have applauded Malaysia's carve-out proposal. On Sunday, Sept. 1, the NY Times editorial board stated its support.
The tobacco industry and their allies, on the other hand, are busy blowing smoke about it, and the U.S. is balking.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death, claiming 6.3 million deaths a year, including 1,200 Americans daily, and draining almost $200 billion a year in U.S. health care costs and lost productivity. Tobacco is barely a blip in the U.S. economy, and less than a fraction of a percent of our exports.
Trade agreements are supposed to lower prices for goods through competition. But lower prices for cigarettes means more kids will buy them, with damaging results for health.
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