[Intl-tobacco] Tobacco Free Kids Urges US Govt. to Support Strong Tobacco Treaty

[Robert Weissman]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS: Nicole Dueffert/Joel Spivak tel. 202-296-5469

March 14, 2002

Campaign Urges Bush Administration to Play More Constructive Role
As Negotiations Resume on International Tobacco Treaty
4th Round of Negotiations to Begin March 18 in Geneva

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 14, 2002) – As negotiations resume next week in
Geneva, Switzerland, on the proposed international tobacco treaty, the
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids today called on the Bush Administration and
its negotiators to play a more constructive role than in previous rounds and
take positions that protect the public health rather than the tobacco
industry.  The fourth round of negotiations on the proposed Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control will take place March 18-23 under the auspices
of the World Health Organization.

“During the last two rounds of negotiations, the United States was at the
forefront of weakening the treaty,” said Judith P. Wilkenfeld, the Campaign’
s Director of International Programs.  “The U.S. has continually tried to
water down critical provisions on tobacco advertising, consumer protection,
and trade, while most other countries took strong positions.  The U.S.
positions would facilitate the tobacco industry’s assault on the developing
world, rather than empowering countries to protect the health of their
citizens.”

The Campaign called on the U.S. to reverse course and take a stronger
position on international tobacco issues, just as it appears to have
done in
more aggressively pursuing the Department of Justice lawsuit against the
tobacco industry.  After initially seeking to defund and then to prematurely
settle the lawsuit, the Justice Department recently sent a document to the
tobacco industry proposing remedies that are stronger than those the
Administration has been willing to accept as part of the Framework
Convention.  For example, one of the proposed remedies would ban the use of
labels such as “light”, “low-tar” and “mild” that imply reduced health
risks.  The U.S. has opposed a ban on these and other terms as part of the
Framework Convention.

“If the remedies proposed by the Justice Department truly reflect what the
Administration believes must be done to protect the public health from
tobacco, then it should advocate these positions internationally as well as
domestically,” Wilkenfeld said.  “The hope for a strong tobacco treaty rests
on whether the U.S. reverses course and acts as a leader in protecting
public health, not as chief defender of tobacco industry interests.”

In addition to the ban on misleading labels such as “light” and “low-tar”,
the U.S. has also taken weak positions on other key issues:

Trade and Public Health: Most nations have urged that the Framework
Convention include a provision recognizing that when principles of free
trade and public health conflict, public health concerns should take
priority.  The U.S. is one only a few nations that have opposed this
position.  This principle was recognized by the World Trade Organization in
its recently concluded agreement on patents of pharmaceuticals, which placed
a priority on developing nation’s access to affordable AIDS drugs.  The U.S.
proposed language would allow trade principles to trump public health
concerns (U.S.-proposed language: “The parties agree that tobacco control
measures shall be transparent, non-discriminatory and implemented in
accordance with their international obligations”).

Advertising: While many nations support a total ban on tobacco advertising
and promotions, the United States has opposed such a ban.  The U.S. cited
constitutional concerns, but even opposed a compromise that would allow each
nation to ban or restrict advertising “in conformity with its national
Constitution.”  This issue is critical to many nations because television
advertisements, magazines and promotional materials with tobacco product
logos easily cross national boundaries.

The U.S. has also taken a weaker position than most countries in calling for
increased tobacco taxes as a means to reduce tobacco use, especially by
children.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States,
killing more than 400,000 Americans every year.  Worldwide, about four
million people die each year from tobacco-related disease, with this figure
to rise to about 10 million per year by 2030, with 70 percent of those
deaths occurring in developing countries.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is participating in the negotiation of
the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control as a non-governmental observer.
The World Health Organization is seeking to complete the Framework
Convention in 2003.


Judith Wilkenfeld can be reached in Geneva at 202-413-2488 (U.S. mobile).