U.S. Tobacco Trade Proposal Draws Fire From Both Sides

WASHINGTON:  A U.S. trade proposal aimed at eliminating foreign tariffs on U.S. tobacco products while preserving the right of governments to adopt anti-smoking regulations is drawing fire from opposing sides - public health and business groups.

The American Cancer Society and allied organizations said the plan would give tobacco companies a new tool to challenge government anti-smoking measures, while business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Farm Bureau Federation said it would weaken a tenet of international trade law that many U.S. exporters rely on to sell goods abroad.