Must-Read: Danny Hakim: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Works Globally to Fight Antismoking Measures

Must-Read: May I say: should the TPP includes any language allowing tobacco companies to use its dispute-resolution mechanisms, that in and of itself is a technocratic deal-breaker? That the effects on global public health from giving tobacco companies such an anti-regulatory shield make it unlikely that there are any net benefits to global society from the TPP?

Danny Hakim: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Works Globally to Fight Antismoking Measures: “In Washington, the U.S. Chamber’s tobacco lobbying has been visible in the negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership…

…One of the more controversial proposals would expand the power of companies to sue countries if they violate trade rules. The U.S. Chamber has openly opposed plans to withhold such powers from tobacco companies, curbing their ability to challenge national antismoking laws. The chamber says on its website that ‘singling out tobacco’ will ‘open a Pandora’s box as other governments go after their particular bêtes noires.’… Mr. Donohue, the chamber’s head, sought to raise the issue in 2012 directly with Ron Kirk, who was then the United States trade representative…. Mr. Kirk is now a senior lawyer at Gibson, Dunn, a firm that counts the tobacco industry as a client. He said… [he] could not recall a specific conversation on tobacco…. The chamber declined to make Mr. Donohue available for an interview.