U.S. Tobacco Company Praises WTO for Supporting Global Expansion of Tobacco Trade

Cancun - Licensed to Kill, Inc executives attending 5th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Cancun praised the organization for supporting the tobacco industry's global expansion.

"We love the WTO," said Licensed to Kill CEO and Chairman Rich Fromdeth, "It is an organization that truly looks out for us Merchants of Deaths. It's a pity that the same cannot be said for the WHO."

Licensed to Kill's objective in Cancun is to convince WTO officials and delegates that international trade agreements should continue to treat tobacco products like any other consumer product.

"Tobacco is really no different than milk, carrots, or tea - it just kills a few more million people around the world annually, if consumed as intended," said Licensed to Kill Director Gray Vastone, "Indeed, tobacco is a commodity just like any other. It is our corporate right, in a global free market economy, to sell death if we choose."

"Our company openly admits that the tobacco industry kills 5 million people worldwide annually, and asks 'who really cares?' " said Corrie Prutspin, Licensed to Kill's Senior VP of Corporate Communications, "In our view, the lives and lungs of people around the world are a small price to pay for the freedom to conduct business as we please."

"The economic benefits of the tobacco trade go beyond our mega-billion profits. Just think of all the money governments save on healthcare, housing and pensions when smokers die early. Frankly, it's a quite a burden on national budgets when citizens live long."

"In particular, our company is interested in targeting the children and women in low-income countries, who represent a huge untapped market for us," said Virginia Slime, Senior VP of Global Marketing, "The last thing we need is more unfair trade barriers, e.g. bans on using misleading descriptors like 'Light' and 'Mild', which infringe upon our trademark rights."

"The bottomline for our industry is that health concerns should not take precedence over trade," said Fromdeth, "We applaud the WTO for not excluding tobacco products from international trade agreements. Trade treaties should trump international health treaties, like the recently adopted Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It's really that simple."

"If the WTO continues to support the tobacco industry, our company may one day realize our dream of a cigarette in the mouth of every man, woman, and child worldwide."

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About Licensed to Kill: Licensed to Kill, Inc is a real company. It was incorporated in the U.S. state of Virginia in March 2003. The purpose of the company, as stated in its articles of incorporation is "to manufacture and market tobacco products in a way that each year kills over 400,000 Americans and 4.5 million other persons worldwide." The company's slogan is: We're Rich, You're Dead! ™ For more information about Licensed to Kill visit www.licensedtokill.biz or email tobacco@licensedtokill.biz