Meeting between State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and PMI

PMI by 2FIRSTS.ai

Jan.16.2024

Meeting between State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and PMI

Head of State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, Wang Gongcheng, met with Philip Morris International executives in Beijing on January 16.

On January 16th, Wang Gongcheng, a member of the Communist Party group and Deputy Director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, held a friendly meeting in Beijing with the visiting delegation of Paul Riley, President of East Asia and Australia Region, as well as global duty-free operations leader of Philip Morris International (PMI).

The heads of the External Affairs Division, Development Planning Division, Supervision and Administration Division for Monopolized Sales, Economic Operations Division, China National Tobacco Sales Corporation, and China Tobacco International Limited attended the meeting.

Also Read:

[1] Meeting between National Tobacco Administration and PMI

[2] China Tobacco Deputy Director Meets KT&G Vice President

#Traditional tobacco #Asia #China #PMI #FIRSTUNION

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria

Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria

According to Law360 on August 31, 2026, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that a patent sublicense between R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and Juul Labs Inc. relieves Reynolds of its obligation to continue paying royalties to Altria Client Services LLC over Vuse Alto. A jury had previously found that Vuse Alto infringed three Altria patents and awarded approximately $95.2 million in past damages, after which Reynolds was ordered to pay an ongoing royalty equal to 5.25% of positive net sales. The new ruling finds that a valid sublicense can eliminate future infringement, potentially ending what Altria described as hundreds of millions of dollars in future royalties.

South Korea Vape Strategies Diverge as BAT Reconsiders Exit and PMI Takes VEEV to About 14,000 Stores

South Korea Vape Strategies Diverge as BAT Reconsiders Exit and PMI Takes VEEV to About 14,000 Stores

BAT Rothmans says it previously considered exiting South Korea's vaping market because of competitive pressure from unregulated products, but is now reassessing conditions following changes to the country's nicotine regulatory framework. Vuse and other BAT vaping products remain available through existing distribution channels. The statement followed a South Korean media report that interpreted BAT's broader withdrawal from selected Vapour markets as a full exit from South Korea. Meanwhile, Philip Morris International launched VEEV inPRIME in the country in June and began expanding distribution to around 14,000 convenience stores and other retail channels in July. The contrasting moves highlight differing investment strategies as South Korea's regulated vaping market evolves.

Australia’s One Nation Proposes 75% Tobacco Tax Cut, Says Lower Prices Could Hit Illicit Market

Australia’s One Nation Proposes 75% Tobacco Tax Cut, Says Lower Prices Could Hit Illicit Market

Australia’s One Nation party has proposed cutting tobacco excise by 75%, arguing that lower legal cigarette prices could narrow the gap with illicit tobacco and reduce demand for black-market products. The proposal comes as Australia continues expanding enforcement against illicit tobacco supply chains through border controls, retail inspections and organised-crime investigations. Supporters argue high taxes have contributed to illicit-market growth, while opponents warn that lower tobacco prices could undermine public-health goals. The proposal is a party policy position and has not been adopted by the Australian government.

PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities

PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities

Philip Morris International's PMI Business Solutions Philippines has expanded its global business services hub in Makati and plans to add more than 80 positions. Established in 2021 primarily to provide finance and IT support to about 20 markets, the center now employs 519 professionals delivering roughly 600 services across 160 markets. Its functions now span finance, human resources, IT, commercial operations, data analytics, supply chain and project management. PMI says the hub's next phase will focus on AI-enabled and higher-value work. The company did not disclose the size or investment cost of the expansion.

JTI Makes Third Bet on South Korea as Ploom AURA Enters a Market Dominated by lil and IQOS

JTI Makes Third Bet on South Korea as Ploom AURA Enters a Market Dominated by lil and IQOS

Japan Tobacco International is stepping up its heated tobacco push in South Korea with Ploom AURA. Since its official launch in April 2026, the device's limited First Edition and Glacier White version have sold out, while distribution has expanded across Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and airport duty-free channels. The rollout marks JTI's third major attempt to build a stronger heated tobacco position in South Korea, following Ploom TECH in 2019 and Ploom X Advanced in 2024. At the group level, JT plans to invest about ¥800 billion, approximately $5 billion, in reduced-risk products from 2026 through 2028, with heated products and Ploom identified as its primary investment priority.

South Korea Imports 12,126 Kg of Nicotine Analogues From April to August After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law

South Korea Imports 12,126 Kg of Nicotine Analogues From April to August After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law

South Korea's liquid-vape market is showing changes across raw-material imports, product types and sales channels after synthetic nicotine came under the Tobacco Business Act on April 24. Customs data show nicotine-analogue imports totaled 12,126 kilograms from April through August, while synthetic-nicotine imports over the same five months totaled 231,663 kilograms, just 39.3% of the amount imported in March alone. Physical liquid-vape stores tracked in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province fell 9.9%, unmanned outlets edged higher and online sales listings increased from 27,774 to 42,437. Government testing of 105 liquid inhalation products promoted as nicotine-free separately found nicotine in 13 and 6-methylnicotine in 12.

Related Topics

Related Read

Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria

Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria

South Korea Vape Strategies Diverge as BAT Reconsiders Exit and PMI Takes VEEV to About 14,000 Stores

South Korea Vape Strategies Diverge as BAT Reconsiders Exit and PMI Takes VEEV to About 14,000 Stores

Australia’s One Nation Proposes 75% Tobacco Tax Cut, Says Lower Prices Could Hit Illicit Market

Australia’s One Nation Proposes 75% Tobacco Tax Cut, Says Lower Prices Could Hit Illicit Market

PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities

PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities

JTI Makes Third Bet on South Korea as Ploom AURA Enters a Market Dominated by lil and IQOS

JTI Makes Third Bet on South Korea as Ploom AURA Enters a Market Dominated by lil and IQOS

South Korea Imports 12,126 Kg of Nicotine Analogues From April to August After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law

South Korea Imports 12,126 Kg of Nicotine Analogues From April to August After Bringing Synthetic Nicotine Under Tobacco Law