In May, the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission held a public forum in Lewiston to hear what Maine citizens had to say about how trade policies affect Maine. Following are excerpts from the testimony of Dr. Martha Spiess on policies related to tobacco and alcohol.

As one who has been trained as a veterinarian, I am keenly interested in many aspects of public health policy. I have recently been interested in learning how trade treaties can undermine governments’ ability to control tobacco and alcohol—two products that cause substantial harm to public health.

Trade treaties have traditionally been viewed as a way of increasing economic efficiency… Of reducing commodity prices, increasing competition and stimulating more vigorous marketing. According to standard economic theory, trade treaties are supposed to lead to increased production and consumption of commodities, or goods.

These treaties are designed to make goods cheaper as taxes are lowered, more accessible as market restrictions are eliminated, and more desirable to consumers as they are advertised and otherwise promoted.

But these treaties don’t just deal with “goods,” they also cover “bads.” That is, commodities that, when consumed, lead to public health problems.

I’m speaking here specifically of tobacco and alcohol. Most people are aware that tobacco kills. Why should the sales and consumption of tobacco be boosted by international trade treaties?

Tobacco should not be made cheaper; it should be made more expensive. Tobacco should not be made more easily accessible to citizens through the elimination of market restrictions; it should be made less accessible , especially to young people? Tobacco should not be made more desirable to youth through global advertising; we should be reducing tobacco advertising,sponsorships and other promotions to protect young people worldwide.

The same argument can and should be applied to alcohol. From a public policy perspective, alcohol is “flying under the radar” of public perception. It’s where tobacco was 10-15 years ago.

There are causal relationships between alcohol consumption and more than 60 types of disease and injury, including traffic fatalities.

But there have been positive developments which we can build upon here in Maine.

In 2005, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came into force. This is the first legally binding treaty sponsored by the World Health Organization (in contrast to trade treaties sponsored by the World Trade Organization). It is designed to reduce tobacco-related deaths and disease world-wide by restricting the supply and demand for the product. It provides a model for a similar initiative that is now being proposed for alcohol. Such a health-promoting treaty could insulate alcohol policy from trade treaty rules. It could enable governments to pursue the most effective public policies unhindered by trade treaty rules. Here in Maine, we should actively promote—and insist that our governments actively support and promote—the adoption of a Framework Convention on Alcohol Control.

Maine should request that the United States Trade Representative:

Not make any GATS offers affecting the supply, distribution, sale, advertising, promotion or investment of tobacco and alcoholic beverages in Maine; and

Refrain from making any GATS requests of other countries pertaining to these service sectors.

In particular, Maine should request that the federal government instruct the new United States Trade Representative to withdraw U.S. support for the collective (or “plurilateral”) request it has co-sponsored on Distribution Services as it pertains to alcohol and tobacco.