Japanese Growers Protest Against Planned Privatisation

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 10/24/2011

About 400 tobacco growers from across Japan yesterday voiced their opposition to government plans to sell off Japan Tobacco Inc, according to a piece by Hiroyuki Kachi for the Wall Street Journal Blogs. The government has proposed selling off the country's share of just over 50 per cent in the company over the next 10 years to provide rebuilding funds needed following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. JT has an obligation to buy all of the tobacco produced by domestic growers. The growers marched around Tokyo's Nagatacho-district, the center of Japan's government, protesting against the proposed sell-off and plans to increase cigarette taxes by ¥2.00 per piece annually for five years starting from October next year. Enditem