A WTO dispute panel said last week that Australia’s plain packaging policy for tobacco products is in line with global trade rules, following years of litigation between Canberra and four countries over the measure’s legality. The case was filed by Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Indonesia. The dispute ruling itself, issued on Thursday 28 June, numbers nearly 900 pages, and involves one of the most high-profile WTO cases seen in recent years. It has also highlighted the relationship between public health, trade, and intellectual property rights, drawing interest and scrutiny from a wide range of stakeholder groups. Years of litigation Australia enacted its plain packaging legisla... [Read more]