Tobacco under fire

Geneva

The United States this week dropped its opposition to a global treaty designed to curb the use of tobacco. “Much to the surprise of many around the world, I’m going to be supporting the tobacco treaty,” said Tommy Thompson, U.S. secretary of health and human services. The agreement is being considered by a World Health Organization assembly in Geneva. It would ban advertising of tobacco products, encourage high cigarette taxes, and require that all ingredients be listed on the packaging of tobacco products. It would also impose broad legal liability on manufacturers. The Bush administration had gone on record as opposing the treaty, but Thompson said the U.S. would now support it with “no reservations.” When asked what prompted the shift, he said, “Someday, I will tell you.”

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