U.S. agency to probe cigarette imports (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

U.S. agency to probe cigarette imports
Source: Reuters, Wednesday, 9/22/99

08:34 p.m Sep 21, 1999 Eastern

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. International Trade Commission said
Tuesday it would investigate allegations by Brown and Williamson Tobacco
Corp. that four U.S. firms illegally imported its cigarettes.

The Brown & Williamson unit of British American Tobacco Plc. alleged that
the firms -- Allstate Cigarette Distributors Inc., R.E. Tobacco Sales
Inc., Prestige Storage & Distribution Inc., and Dood Enterprises Inc. --
broke U.S. trade rules by importing KOOL and Lucky Strike cigarettes that
were manufactured for sale outside the United States.

``Importation of cigarettes meant for export constitutes an infringement
of Brown & Williamson's trademarks in violation of federal law,'' the
company said.

It asked the International Trade Commission (ITC) to block further imports
of the cigarettes by the four firms, which are based in Florida and
California.

``The ITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case,'' the
commission said in a statement.

It could take the commission several months to complete its investigation.

Brown & Williamson, the nation's third largest tobacco manufacturer, is
based in Louisville, Ky. The company's major brands include Kool, Lucky
Strike, GPC, Carlton and Misty.