Malaysian Development Minister Says Cigarette Makers Should Support Growers

Source from:  tobaccoreporter.com 03/02/2005

Cigarette manufacturers in Malaysia should be required to financially support tobacco farmers after the Asean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) is fully implemented in 2010, according to Awang Adek Hussen, the country’s deputy rural and regional development minister. Hussen says the implementation of AFTA will have an adverse affect on tobacco farmers because they will have to compete with cheaper imported tobacco from Thailand and Indonesia. Beginning in 2003, AFTA members began to lower their tariffs on products traded among themselves. When AFTA first called for a reduction in tariffs, there was discussion about exempting tobacco products. Some countries have begun implementing AFTA and have reduced their tobacco tariffs. Enditem