SINGAPORE -- With Asia facing potentially debilitating health care costs related to high rates of smoking, many countries have been trying to curb tobacco consumption by increasing taxes. But this seems to have backfired by triggering an upswing in smuggling that has undermined tax revenues without doing much to protect the public.
Business trends
Cigarette smuggling gouges Asia's taxes, anti-smoking drive
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines see billions in revenue go up in smoke