Philip Morris Threatens Suit on Cigarette Packaging

Tobacco giant worried Australia's laws will hurt competition
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 27, 2011 8:32 AM CDT
Philip Morris Threatens Suit on Cigarette Packaging
In this computer-generated image, proposed cigarette packaging stripped of all logos and replaced with graphic images that tobacco companies in Australia will be forced to use is shown.   (AP Photo/Minister for Health and Ageing)

Before the gross new cigarette packages arrive in the US, similar ones will arrive in Australia—and big tobacco is not happy. Philip Morris has threatened to sue the Australian government over its new packaging laws, slated to arrive in January 2012, which would introduce drab, olive-colored packages with no brand identification other than the name. The tobacco giant's legal claim would come under Australia's bilateral investment treaty with Hong Kong, and would ultimately be decided by the UN, Reuters reports. (More cigarettes stories.)

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