Philip Morris USA: American Children Must Smoke American Cigarettes

Kerry Howley | September 12, 2007

"The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Act," reports the Asia Times, will ban tobacco companies from marketing Indonesian cloves in the U.S. market. This is necessary for the sake of the children. Specifically, the children of executives at Philip Morris. 

Philip Morris USA, oddly one of the US tobacco bill's main backers, does not manufacture cigarettes in the US with any of the prohibited flavors - although it makes menthol cigarettes. Some tobacco-sector analysts claim regulation by the FDA would in effect help solidify Philip Morris's position as the leading cigarette manufacturer. 

Jacob Sullum has explored the legislation's Big Tobacco-friendly provisions in detail. The Asia Times adds heretofore unexplored benefits, such as offending Indonesians and contravening WTO trade regulations.