(Reuters) – Ukraine has suspended a case it was pursuing through the World Trade Organization aimed at overturning Australia’s strict tobacco packaging laws, a WTO panel of adjudicators said in a statement published on Wednesday.
Ukraine asked the panel to suspend the proceedings on May 28 and said it will try to find a mutually agreed solution with Australia, the statement said.
Honduras, Cuba, Indonesia and Dominican Republic are also challenging Australia’s tobacco packaging laws at the WTO. There was no indication that their litigation would be affected.
A growing number of countries have said they plan to follow Australia’s 2010 step, banning flashy logos and distinctive-coloured cigarette packaging in favour of drab olive packets that look more like military or prison issue, with brand names printed in small standardised fonts.
