Anti-Tobacco Lobby Seeks Overseas Curbs

A coalition of public interest organizations sent a letter to President Clinton on Wednesday asking him to oppose a tobacco settlement that fails to include strict controls on the overseas operations of U.S. tobacco companies.

The letter notes that 85% of the 3 million annual tobacco-related deaths occur outside the United States and that the proposed $368.5-billion settlement does not address the overseas operations of the companies, which now sell more cigarettes abroad than they do in the U.S.

Moreover, the letter notes that while smoking rates are “relatively flat” or declining in the U.S., they are rising elsewhere, particularly in developing countries. The letter was signed by more than two dozen organizations--including the Inter-Hemispheric Education & Resource Center and Americans for Nonsmoker Rights--that gathered in Beijing for the World Conference on Tobacco or Health.

“While the U.S. government must do everything in its power to stop the tobacco industry from addicting children in the U.S., it must not do this at the expense of the rest of the world,” the letter says.

Critics of the proposed settlement have said they fear that if it becomes law, U.S. cigarette companies will step up their overseas marketing to make up for decreased sales in this country that could result from price hikes that will be levied to finance the deal.

“With U.S.-based companies playing such a huge role in promoting tobacco consumption overseas, we have a special responsibility to ensure that any settlement sets an international minimum standard for tobacco control,” said Robert Weissman, co-director of Essential Action, a Washington advocacy group that sponsored the letter.

The anti-tobacco activists called for making all U.S. regulations to apply to U.S.-made cigarettes for export; requiring U.S. tobacco companies to agree to the same advertising and marketing restrictions abroad that would be imposed under the U.S. settlement; prohibiting U.S. companies from opposing regulatory efforts in other countries that have been urged by the World Health Organization; and requiring U.S. tobacco companies to offer to compensate foreign governments for expenses of treating sick smokers.

Tobacco spokesmen have said they would not accept any restrictions on their foreign activities as a term of any settlement approved by Congress. A White House aide said Wednesday that the administration is concerned about the international ramifications of a settlement but is unclear what precisely could be done about it.