US and Indonesia Clove Cigarette Dispute Settled

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October 7, 2014

    As of October 3, 2014, the United States and Indonesia came to an agreement over the    clove cigarette case, which was brought to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2010 after the US banned the product.  The settlement stipulates that the US ban on the clove cigarettes and flavored cigarettes will remain.  However, the US agreed to allow other Indonesian tobacco products to be imported to the US.  This disagreement stems from The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which President Obama signed in 2009.  This Act “bans cigarettes with characterizing flavors,” to deter children from smoking.  Indonesia saw this law as discriminatory, since there was an exception for menthol-flavored cigarettes produced in the US.  

    While the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids views the settlement as a victory, they are concerned that the agreement may impede the Food and Drug Administration’s ability to regulate cigars, including clove flavored cigars.  President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids stated, “We are pleased that any settlement leaves in place the current prohibition on the sale of clove cigarettes along with other flavored cigarettes.  But it is important that any settlement not hamstring the FDA’s ability to address the problem caused by the introduction of small flavored cigars, including clove-flavored cigars.”

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