Indonesia and U.S. Clash Over Possible Ban on Clove Cigarettes

Some Indonesian politicians are concerned that U.S. legislation banning the sale of clove-flavored cigarettes would hurt four million clove farmers in Indonesia, Bloomberg News reported May 19.

The ban is part of legislation allowing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products and advertising. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives April 2, and is being debated by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The measure calls for a ban on cigarette flavors like clove, cherry and chocolate in an effort to reduce underage use, but would allow the sale of menthol cigarettes — a flavor commonly used by U.S. cigarette makers.

The legislation would result in Congress “blatantly favoring a domestically produced product over an imported one,” according to Indonesia’s ambassador to the U.S., Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat.

The U.S. and Indonesia maintain a $22 billion-a-year trade relationship, and Indonesia exports roughly $500 million worth of clove cigarettes worldwide each year. The U.S. receives almost one-fifth of these exports, with 99 percent of the clove cigarettes sold in the U.S. coming from Indonesia.

Banning U.S. sales of clove cigarettes won’t impact demand or employment in the industry, contends Widyastuti Soerojo, head of the Indonesia Public Health Association.

The Indonesian ambassador said he would raise the issue with the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the U.S. measure passes into law. The success of the complaint could depend on whether the U.S. can convince the WTO that the ban on clove cigarettes is based on health concerns.