The new British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is facing a diplomatic dispute with Cuba, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic over the UK's anti-tobacco measures, which the three countries warn could severely impact their cigar exports.
The confrontation came to light following a leaked diplomatic correspondence, as reported by The Telegraph.
The conflict has its roots in 2023, when the then-conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak championed the generational smoking ban, which later became the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.
The regulation, which will come into effect on January 1, 2027, will prohibit the sale of tobacco products—including premium cigars—to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009.
Tensions heightened in July when the British government opened a public consultation on a proposal to extend plain packaging to all tobacco products, including premium cigars.
The ambassadors of Cuba, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic have been pressuring London since 2024 to secure a specific exemption for cigars. In their communications, they argue that the restrictions "will disproportionately impact cigar-producing countries" and constitute an "unjustified barrier to trade."
Diplomatic frustration grew after a letter addressed directly to the prime minister was answered by a lower-ranking health official.
"It is very unusual for a prime minister to delegate the response to a letter to a government department, and this was met with dismay by the embassies, which see themselves as business partners and friends of the United Kingdom," a source familiar with the conflict told The Telegraph.
The three countries also question London's approach to treating cigars similarly to cigarettes and vapes, without considering the economic and cultural weight of this industry.
"For our countries, this industry represents not only a source of decent employment and economic stability but also a vital element of our cultural heritage, just as Scotch whisky, English dry gin, or traditional Welsh cider are for the United Kingdom," notes one of the diplomatic letters quoted by the British media.
The correspondence warns that cigar production supports the livelihoods of over 400,000 people in Latin America and the Caribbean, many of whom are women and small farmers from rural communities.
Phil Buckthorpe, founder of the Save Cigars campaign, warned The Telegraph that the new requirements could lead manufacturers and distributors to stop sending certain products to the British market.
"The problem is that cigar manufacturers and distributors are likely to stop shipping them to the UK if they have to undertake this repackaging. The reality is that many product lines will cease to be available in the British market," he stated.
According to Buckthorpe, the 120 specialized tobacco shops currently operating in the United Kingdom would also be directly affected.
The Department of Health and Social Care rejected the criticism and defended that tobacco is "a uniquely harmful product," while arguing that granting exceptions "would create loopholes to continue hooking future generations."
Cuba has already won a similar battle against Australia before the World Trade Organization over its plain packaging measures, although the organization ultimately supported the Australian restrictions.
The new dispute occurs at a delicate time between London and Havana. In June, the British government paused the ratification of the cooperation agreement signed with Cuba in 2023, considering that "it is not the right time," and intensified its criticism regarding the human rights situation on the island.
The public consultation on plain packaging will remain open until October 2, 2026, as Cuba and other producing countries seek an exemption to protect the trade of their cigars.
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