How U.S. Chamber of Commerce affiliates abroad lobby for tobacco industry interests
By
Jason McLure
Summary
An investigation into how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's global network of American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) actively supports tobacco industry interests abroad. Using Bulgaria, Serbia, and Ukraine as case studies, the article reveals how AmChams — ostensibly representing American business broadly — have lobbied against vaping bans, celebrated cigarette factory expansions, and hosted tobacco executives alongside government officials. The piece exposes the tension between the Chamber's stated public health positions and its local affiliates' actions that align with tobacco industry goals, raising questions about conflicts of interest and corporate influence on policy.
Source
bskyHow U.S. Chamber of Commerce affiliates abroad lobby for tobacco industry intereststheexamination.orgKey quotes
· 3 pulledThe Bulgarian affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce weighed in with tobacco industry talking points, and a less restrictive bill eventually passed.
In January 2025, a 14-year-old Bulgarian boy fell from a seventh-floor window after suffering a bad reaction to a vape that contained a synthetic drug similar to marijuana.
American Chambers of Commerce opposed a vaping ban in Bulgaria, praised a cigarette factory in Serbia and hosted tobacco executives and government officials in Ukraine.
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