LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Tobacco advocates are seething over a new Canadian law they claim will snuff out sales of cigarettes packed with U.S. burley.
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 crackdown. They also want to head off the spread of similar laws in other foreign markets that are crucial consumers of American leaf.
Erica Peterson with the North Carolina Agribusiness Council says export markets are "absolutely critical" to the tobacco industry.
The Canadian law 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.
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