WTO throws out US clove cigarette appeal against Indonesia

The World Trade Organisation on Wednesday threw out Washington's appeal against Jakarta's claim that US rules banning the sale of Indonesian clove cigarettes infringed international trade rules. Washington had banned the production and sale of clove cigarettes under a health act that also blocks the sales of other cigarettes with flavours such as grape, coffee or strawberry, in a bid to prevent the young from getting hooked on smoking.
The move prompted Indonesia to lodge a case against the US at the WTO, with Jakarta arguing that the act had not been applied uniformly as it did not cover menthol cigarettes, a claim that the WTO upheld in its ruling.