The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the TransAtlantic Business Dialogue, the Emergency Committee for American Trade, the National Association of Manufacturers, the United States Council for International Business and the National Foreign Trade Council issued the following statement in light of the U.K. announcement that it was pursuing a public consultation regarding plain packaging for tobacco products:
….. It is our hope that through this consultation and subsequent somber reflection the U.K. government will put this exercise aside.
As leading representatives of business, we rely on the rules-based international trade framework and its supporters to sustain economic growth, employment, innovation and prosperity. We will work hard to encourage governments, including the U.K. government, to reflect in what they do the importance of the rules based international system."
OK, the Yanks have just told Cameron to back off regarding plain packaging for cigarettes. Will he listen to this wise advise from these trade bodies, or will he back the loony bansterbaters at ASH and start a trade war. Really good idea that would be in a recession – not.