Beirut Declaration: Excluding Tobacco Sector from Commerce Agreements and International Investment Is devastating
On Thursday, national tobacco companies from Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Syria met in Lebanon. Following the meeting the parties warned from “excluding tobacco sector from trade agreements and international investment”, which would lead to “negative devastations”. As well, they drew the attention toward “imposing additional restrictions on legal trade of tobacco products” which is in a position to encourage “illicit trade of such products” that in turn leads to “a significant decrease in customs and tax revenues”.
The Regie received in its headquarter in Hadath, on Thursday, the first meeting of national tobacco companies from Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Syria. Attending the meeting were general managers of national tobacco companies from the four countries, whereas the Regie clarified that the parties met seeing the common aspects between these countries and recognizing the importance of the threats that encounter this government backed sector. As well the Regie stressed that the meeting aimed to “discuss common interests between the countries and to adopt a common position concerning the future of this sector.”
According to Seklaoui a common cause unifies national tobacco companies of Party States, which is to protect tobacco sector against the challenges it faces. He added: "since the last meeting in Beirut we are still active on several fronts. After the Declaration of Beirut 2, we initiated contact with various governmental bodies such as the Ministries of Finance, Economy, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, and General Directorate of Customs ..., intensified coordination with relevant authorities, and increased awareness about the risk of some tobacco international laws over both tobacco sector and national economy. We informed officials that were keen to choose well informed representatives of our country abroad and vote on international tobacco laws”.
"We are preparing to host a conference about combating illegal trade on the 28th of the current month in Beirut, to which we are pleased to invite you. We hope that this initiative will increase awareness of the public and reduce smuggling, which causes financial waste and deprives the state of millions of dollars as tax revenues annually.
"The conference comes simultaneously with international decisions that threaten this sector and the economies of our countries in terms of preventing the WTO from legalizing tobacco trade. However, the most important issue is the COP 8 attempt to address the dangers of tobacco farming over the environment as a climate threat; an exaggerating and unscientific rhetoric that poses tobacco sector as a threat to the planet. It is the most dangerous since it affects working force of tobacco sector and even the sovereignty of our countries, insomuch as climate related matters are mandatory and imposed on governments.” He said.
“The health of our farmers and our citizens is our concern but how can this Conference lose sight of the consequences of shutting tobacco sector?” He asked: “Are alternatives available in our countries? Would we allow random provisions to be imposed on us regardless each country’s peculiarities and interests?”
He added: “Dangers and damages will be numerous if we do not act straightaway; each from his position, jurisdiction, and responsibility”. Seklaoui considered that the opportunity is available today. Thus it was yesterday from Beirut, today from Egypt, and tomorrow from Tunisia or perhaps Syria. However, more important than acting is acting jointly toward the same direction, with a clear vision and a common plan.”
Haroun
The head of the Eastern Tobacco Company, Mohamed Osman Haroun, said that this company is “one of the Egyptian economy’s pillars that provided national treasury with 43 billion pounds last year; the second income after the Suez Canal”. Nevertheless, tobacco industry is “under a vicious attack”, thus the need to “protect the industry from the challenges it faces considering the role of companies in supporting national economy of each country.”
Declaration of Cairo
The participants stressed “the importance of full and continuous coordination between their countries to stand against those risks in a way that preserves this industry.
According to the attendants; “the WTO is the only international reference to discuss the legitimacy of tobacco trade and its effects”. They called “not to withdraw this jurisdiction from this well respected and appreciated global organization.”