BAT Drops Plan to Sue South Africa Over Cigarette-Sales Ban (1)

British American Tobacco Plc will begin negotiations with the South African government instead of taking legal action to overturn a national ban on cigarette sales now in its sixth week.

South Africa blocked the trade of tobacco products in late March as part of a lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, and was set to lift the restriction last week before a last-minute u-turn. BAT said at the time the government should reverse the decision or face the risk of legal action.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration needs to make a “renewed and stronger effort” to “permanently close down ...