In recent years, two of the hottest trade issues have been plain packaging of cigarettes, and trade with China. What if we could combine the two? This is from the Economist:
Planners have consolidated the once-fragmented [Chinese tobacco] industry. In the decade to 2010, 185 cigarette firms and 1,800 brands have shrunk to just 30 firms and 133 brands. Foreign brands are relegated to a niche market in China but the ciggy bigwigs now have their eyes on global expansion. They want to create big brands to go up against the Marlboro man overseas.
But it will be hard to go up against the Marlboro man, if they can't use their own marketing tools. On the other hand, would they support plain packaging, because it takes away one of Marlboro's advantages?