U.S. Chamber of Commerce Fighting Antismoking Measures

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its foreign affiliates have become the hammer for the tobacco industry, engaging in a worldwide effort to fight anti-smoking laws of all kinds.

According to a New York Times article posted this morning, “The U.S. Chamber’s work in support of the tobacco industry in recent years has emerged as a priority at the same time the industry has faced one of the most serious threats in its history. A global treaty, negotiated through the World Health Organization, mandates anti-smoking measures and also seeks to curb the influence of the tobacco industry in policy making. The treaty, which took effect in 2005, has been ratified by 179 countries; holdouts include Cuba, Haiti and the United States.”

Thomas J. Donohue, chief executive of the chamber, has taken part in lobbying to defend the ability of the tobacco industry to sue under future international treaties.  The chamber has local outposts across the United States as well as more than 100 affiliates around the world.

Read the original article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/business/international/us-chamber-works-globally-to-fight-antismoking-measures.html