Bacardi Spends $560,000 on Lobbying

AP
Bacardi Spends $560,000 on Lobbying
Friday February 15, 10:35 am ET
Bacardi Spends in $560,000 in 2007 to Lobby the Government on
Trademarks, Trade With Cuba

NEW YORK (AP) -- Spirits company Bacardi USA Inc. spent $560,000 in 2007
to lobby on issues including trade with Cuba and trade name protections,
among others.

The company spent $280,000 in the second half of 2007 to lobby the
federal government, according to a disclosure form posted online Tuesday
by the Senate's public records office. Bacardi also spent $280,000 in
the first part of the year to lobby on largely the same issues.

Bacardi USA Inc. introduced a Puerto Rico-made "Havana Club" rum in
August 2006. It has since been in a trademark battle with rival Pernod
Ricard SA, which claims Bacardi does not have the right to use the
Havana Club trademark in the U.S. Pernod has co-produced "Havana Club"
rum with the Cuban government since 1993, but the beverage is not sold
in the U.S., which has a trade embargo with Cuba.

The company also lobbied throughout the year for legislation to help
reduce underage drinking and decrease taxes on alcohol to their pre-1985
level.

Besides Congress, Bacardi lobbied U.S. Trade Representatives, the
Department of State and the Department of Commerce.

Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence
members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law
enacted in 1995.

(This version CORRECTS name of company at beginning of third graf,
Bacardi USA Inc. sted Bacardi Ltd.)

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080215/bacardi_lobbying.html?.v=3