John Oliver explains how Philip Morris and BAT are using trade agreements to bully nations

This is a must-see video, since it takes arcane details of international trade and translates it into English.  Watch it on YouTube here.
 
For a more academic discussion of how the pending Trans Pacific Partnership will help Big Tobacco and other corporate interests fight public health, environmental, and other public interest actions, take a look at our paper "Health preemption behind closed doors: trade agreements and fast-track authority."   (If you cannot access the full text email me and I will send a PDF.)
 
Another good paper on these issues written by a trade lawyer is available here.
 
These issues are very important because President Obama and the Republicans have identified trade as an area for cooperation (and the Republican leadership in Congress has aggressively supported tobacco companies on trade issues).