Senators to U.S. Chamber: Stop Renting Your Letterhead to Big Tobacco
July 02, 2015
In a statement today, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown, Richard Blumenthal, Dick Durbin, Jeff Merkley, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, and Sheldon Whitehouse reacted to recent reports by The New York Times exposing how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has worked systematically in countries around the world to help the tobacco industry fight life-saving measures to reduce tobacco use.
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s decision to use its international clout to fight regulations of tobacco products around the world is craven and unconscionable. Commerce member companies should be concerned that their good name is sullied in efforts to strike down public health protections worldwide,” said the Senators in their statement. “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is, in effect, renting its letterhead and name to big tobacco, contrary to responsible corporate interests and Americans’ interests in improving global public health. We urge the chamber to rethink this strategy and instead find partners to help improve global public health, not strengthen efforts that will worsen the health of millions globally and cause innumerable deaths from tobacco usage.”
The New York Times articles examine how the U.S. Chamber is opposing countries’ health policies, pitting countries against each other in international trade disputes, and influencing international trade agreements to benefit tobacco companies. Join us and the U.S. Senators in calling on the U.S. Chamber to stop fighting anti-smoking measures.
Read the reports in The New York Times: