Defense of Tobacco institutions in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia against world trade restrictions

The national tobacco institutions in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Tunisia stressed after a meeting in Beirut last Thursday the need to bring about flexible legislations that take into consideration the production, the value chain, the financial input to domestic economy and the creation of jobs generated by this industry. The ‘Beirut Declaration’ as the statement was titled, warned that excluding the tobacco sector from relevant international trade and investment agreements and tightening restrictions on the legitimate trade in the product, will eventually have negative ramifications and could step up illegal smuggling, and counterfeiting of the goods. On the other hand, participants reiterated the significant role played by tobacco production and trade in the growth of economy in many world countries, including the aforementioned Arab countries. The cultivation of the crop, they stressed, contributes to the development of crop growing communities, alleviating poverty and increasing the steadfastness of farmers to their land. They also drew attention to the legitimacy of the agriculture which they noted requires official support on parity with other types of farming. Similarly, the state-run Regie company clarified that the above meeting emanated from a shared conviction by participating countries regarding serious threats to this government supported sector. In this respect, a delegation including directors general of the four tobacco enterprises visited the finance minister, Ali Hassan Khalil to report on the results of the meeting. (Al Mustaqbal, September 30, October 1, 2016)