Lawfare: The Tobacco Industry’s Use of International Trade and Investment Law
Bringing together leading experts on issues of tobacco control and international investment and trade law, this public seminar will discuss the tobacco industry’s strategy of using litigation against tobacco control regulations that states are implementing in the public interest.

Source: Colourbox
Currently, the tobacco industry is using international trade law and international investment law to challenge tobacco control measures in Australia and Uruguay. Although international trade and investment law contain sufficient flexibilities to enable governments to regulate in the interests of public health, the industry’s strategy may achieve partial success in its aim of chilling effective regulation throughout the world.
The tobacco industry’s global litigation strategy may also have implications for Norway as it moves closer to implementing new legislation on tobacco plain-packaging. In light of Norway’s recent release of a new model bilateral investment treaty text and the larger debate relating to the ongoing TTIP negotiations, the seminar will also discuss tobacco control regulations in the Norwegian context and the likelihood that Norway could face international litigation, mirroring that of Australia and Uruguay, in the coming years.
This seminar is open to the public and will be hosted by PluriCourts – Center of Excellence for the Study of the Legitimate Roles of the Judiciary in the Global Order at the University of Oslo.
Confirmed speakers include :
- Andrew Mitchell, Melbourne Law School
- Tania Voon, Melbourne Law School
- Michelle Zang, PluriCourts
- Ole Kristian Fauchald, PluriCourts
- Daniel F. Behn, PluriCourts
- Marianne Hammer, Norwegian Cancer Society
Related information
Philip Morris Asia Limited v. The Commonwealth of Australia, UNCITRAL, PCA Case No. 2012-12