Philip Morris International Launches New Campaign to Combat Black Market Trade

Rhea-AI Summary

Philip Morris International (PMI) has launched the United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT) initiative aimed at combating illegal trade across eight U.S. states including California and Florida. The campaign seeks to raise awareness and equip local officials and law enforcement with resources to tackle black market issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. PMI collaborates with various organizations to tackle counterfeit goods, which have surged nearly 40 percent since January 2020, and emphasizes the need for public-private partnership in combating the issue.

Positive

• Launch of the USA-IT initiative to combat illegal trade.
• Coalition includes diverse organizations enhancing the campaign's impact.
• PMI's commitment to fighting illegal trade with over two decades of experience.

Negative

• The ongoing issue of illegal trade and counterfeit goods significantly impacting local economies.

Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) today launched a public education initiative entitled United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT) to combat black market trade. Supported by a coalition of national and state private and public sector partners, the campaign will provide local officials, law enforcement, and thought leaders with information and training programs to help tackle illegal trade and raise public awareness of the depth of the problem as well as the severe consequences inflicted on states and municipalities by black market profiteers.

The campaign will run through 2021 in eight states facing critical illegal trade issues: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

The coalition’s membership is made up of brand enforcement leaders and other organizations, including:

• American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA)
• Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection Center at Michigan State University
• Arizona Trucking Association (ATA)
• BrandShield
• Florida Petroleum Marketers Association (FPMA)
• Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA)
• Florida Retail Federation (FRF)
• GrindStone Strategic Consulting
• Illinois Fuel & Retail Association (IFRA)
• Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
• Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA)
• International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE)
• Investigative Consultants
• Levi Strauss & Co.
• Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce
• Michigan Retailers Association (MRA)
• Michigan Trucking Association (MTA)
• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
• National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center)
• Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
• Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA)
• Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA)
• Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM)
• Philip Morris International (PMI)
• Procter & Gamble Company
• Sanofi
• SAS
• Sayari
• Tommy Hilfiger
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• United States Council for International Business (USCIB)

“Illegal trade is a major problem that fuels serious organized criminal networks and damages our economy. No matter the commodity, these criminals will seize any opportunity to exploit markets and communities to bolster their nefarious activities,” said Martin King, CEO of PMI America. “PMI is pleased to be joined by so many cross-sector partners who are leading the fight against illegal trade and the black-market criminals profiting at the expense of Americans’ security.”

Counterfeit and smuggled goods pose serious threats in many states. The situation has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with criminals seizing on opportunities to traffic all types of counterfeit and illegal products, including highly demanded personal protective equipment (PPE). Since January 2020, online counterfeited goods have jumped nearly 40 percent.

In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s only through open dialogue, cooperation, and the sharing of best practices between parties in the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, that we can continuously improve and advance efforts against illegal trade and the criminal networks benefiting from it.

PMI has more than two decades of experience fighting illegal trade in tobacco products. The company invests significantly in supply chain controls through preventive and protective measures, implements track-and-trace solutions worldwide in line with strict regulatory requirements, and applies comprehensive due diligence of customers and suppliers. PMI works with private and public actors alike to help advance global anti-illegal trade efforts, including through PMI IMPACT, a global initiative supporting third-party projects against illegal trade and related crimes.

For more information about PMI’s illegal trade prevention efforts, visit StopIllegal.com.

For more information about USA-IT’s efforts to combat illegal trade, and to get involved, visit USAIT.org.

About USA-IT

United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT) is a public and private sector partnership protecting Americans’ security and prosperity from black market criminals.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, its shareholders and its other stakeholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products, associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, PMI ships versions of its IQOS Platform 1 device and consumables to Altria Group, Inc. for sale under license in the U.S., where these products have received marketing authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway; the FDA has also authorized the marketing of a version of IQOS and its consumables as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), finding that an exposure modification order for these products is appropriate to promote the public health. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI's smoke-free product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of March 31, 2021, PMI's smoke-free products are available for sale in 66 markets in key cities or nationwide, and PMI estimates that approximately 14.0 million adults around the world have already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210608005765/en/

FAQ

What is the USA-IT initiative launched by PMI?

The USA-IT initiative is a public education campaign by Philip Morris International aimed at combating illegal trade across several U.S. states.

Which states are involved in the USA-IT initiative?

The initiative targets Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Why is PMI addressing illegal trade?

PMI addresses illegal trade due to its detrimental effects on local economies and the increase in counterfeit goods exacerbated by the pandemic.

How much have counterfeit goods increased since January 2020?

Counterfeit goods have surged nearly 40 percent since January 2020.

What organizations are partnering with PMI for the USA-IT initiative?

The coalition includes various organizations such as the American Apparel and Footwear Association and the International Coalition Against Illicit Economies.