From the AP:
Tobacco advocates are seething over a new Canadian law they claim will snuff out sales of cigarettes packed with U.S. burley, and they are fighting back to protect their export sales.
They are asking U.S. trade officials to take their complaints to the World Trade Organization, hoping to pressure the Canadians into protecting burley from the tobacco crackdown. They also want to head off the spread of similar laws to other foreign markets that are crucial consumers of American leaf.
...
The Canadian law won final approval this month. It is meant to curtail youth smoking in part by banning the sale of tobacco scented with fruit and candy flavors. U.S. tobacco supporters complain that the law overreached to cover American burley, which is laced with flavors to smooth its harsh taste.
"This act is far broader than necessary to meet its laudable objective," several tobacco groups said in a written statement to the U.S. trade representative's office.
"As a result, it will unjustifiably reduce opportunities for U.S. exports of burley tobacco to Canada, and could significantly restrict global exports of burley tobacco if other countries follow Canada's lead."
So would USTR take up this issue at the WTO? Here's what I said on this a couple months ago:
It's a little hard to imagine the Obama administration filing a complaint on this issue. I suppose you never know, though.
My view is pretty much the same now. I'm skeptical that the Obama administration would press this issue, at least through formal channels.
