¶ Overview
- From 2007 to 2008, Rouzer lobbied the federal government on behalf of the U.S. subsidiary of a Japanese tobacco company that had strong ties to the Japanese government and in which the Japanese government was a major shareholder. Some of the disclosures noted that “Japan Tobacco Inc. exports cigarettes to the United States and is concerned about FDA regulation of tobacco products.”
¶ Before Entering Congress, Rouzer Lobbied For A Foreign Tobacco Company
¶ 2007-2008: rouzer lobbied for japan tobacco, a tobacco company partially owned by the japanese government
Rouzer Once Lobbied On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco, Which At The Time Had Strong Ties To The Japanese Government. According to WRAL, "Crabtree asked about charges the pair had traded over Rouzer's lobbying work and whether either one is responsible for shipping jobs overseas. Both men, Crabtree pointed out, have been supportive of North Carolina farm exports. ‘That's a different situation than lobbying for a foreign country, for their agenda, instead of for the agenda of our American farmers,’ McIntyre said. But Rouzer said his overseas lobbying work was on behalf of farmers. ‘Yes, I have done work for Japan Tobacco. But guess what? Japan Tobacco is the No. 1 buyer - foreign buyer - of U.S. Tobacco. I'm not apologizing for that. For you to put in an ad that I was a lobbyist for Japan is 100 percent factually untrue.’ Half of Japan Tobacco is owned by Japan's ministry of finance. The government recently sold off a chunk of its stake in the company to help pay for earthquake recovery. According to business news services such as Bloomberg and Hoovers, the company is profitable and acts as a corporation rather than an arm of the Japanese government. However, until this year, most of the company's top leadership was made up of former Japanese bureaucrats. Japan Tobacco Inc. acquired the non-U.S. operations of tobacco company R.J. Reynolds in 1999 to form the current iteration of JTI. So the company definitely has strong ties to the Japanese government. However, to call Rouzer a lobbyist for Japan is a stretch. And it's not clear what lobbying position Rouzer might have advocated for that would have hurt the interest of U.S. farmers." [WRAL, 10/5/12]
- Associated Press Said The Japanese Government Was A Major Shareholder In Japan Tobacco. According to the Associated Press, "The attacks are rooted in Rouzer's support for a guest worker program supported by farmers, who rely on migrant labor to harvest crops, and his lobbying for the U.S.-based affiliate of Japan Tobacco Inc., a private company in which the Japanese government is a major shareholder. ‘Yes, I have done work for Japan Tobacco. But guess what? Japan Tobacco is the No. 1 buyer, foreign buyer, of U.S. tobacco. I'm not apologizing for that,’ Rouzer said in a recent debate." [Associated Press, 10/11/12]
- As Of 2026, 33% Of Japan Tobacco International (JTI)’s Parent Company Was Owned By The Japanese Government. According to University of Bath, “Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is an transnational tobacco company (TTC), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its parent company is Japan Tobacco Group, referred to here as Japan Tobacco (JT), 33% of which is owned by the Japanese Government.” [University of Bath, Tobacco Tactics, Viewed 12/3/25]
¶ 2007-2008: Rouzer Lobbied On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco, Which Was Concerned About Being Able To Export Cigarettes To The U.S. Amid FDA Regulation
March 2007: Rouzer Registered To Lobby The Federal Government On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc.
[U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Rouzer Co., Filed 4/23/07]
- 2007: When Rouzer Registered To Lobby The Federal Government On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. He Identified It As A Foreign Entity.
[U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Rouzer Co., Filed 4/23/07]
January-June 2007: Rouzer Lobbied On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. With Respect To FDA Regulation Of Tobacco Products. According to the U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure database, from January-June 2007, David Rouzer was named as a lobbyist working for Rouzer Co, which lobbied on behalf of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. with respect to the FDA regulation of tobacco products. Rouzer Co. reported $20,000 in lobbying related income for the client as a result of the activity. [U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Rouzer Co., Filed 8/6/07]
- Rouzer’s Lobbying Disclosure Said Japan Tobacco Exported Cigarettes To The United States And Was Concerned About FDA Regulation Of Tobacco Products.
[U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Rouzer Co., Filed 8/6/07]
July-December 2007: Rouzer Lobbied On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. With Respect To FDA Regulation Of Tobacco Products. According to the U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure database, from July-December 2007, David Rouzer was named as a lobbyist working for Rouzer Co, which lobbied on behalf of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. with respect to the FDA regulation of tobacco products. Rouzer Co. reported $20,000 in lobbying related income for the client as a result of the activity. [U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Rouzer Co., Filed 2/4/08]
- Rouzer’s Lobbying Disclosure Said Japan Tobacco Exported Cigarettes To The United States And Was Concerned About FDA Regulation Of Tobacco Products.
[U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Rouzer Co., Filed 2/4/08]
January-March 2008: Rouzer Lobbied On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. With Respect To FDA Regulation Of Tobacco Products. According to the U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure database, from January-March 2008, David Rouzer was named as a lobbyist working for The Rouzer Company, which lobbied on behalf of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. with respect to the FDA regulation of tobacco products. The Rouzer Company reported $13,000 in lobbying related income for the client as a result of the activity. [U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Jenkins Hill Consulting LLC, Filed 4/20/08]
- Rouzer’s Lobbying Disclosure Said Japan Tobacco Exported Cigarettes To The United States And Was Concerned About FDA Regulation Of Tobacco Products.
[U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, The Rouzer Company, Filed 4/20/08]
Rouzer Filed A Disclosure Indicating That The Rouzer Company Would No Longer Lobby On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. As Of 6/30/08.
[U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, The Rouzer Company, Filed 4/20/08]
April-June 2008: Rouzer Lobbied On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. With Respect To FDA Regulation Of Tobacco Products. According to the U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure database, from April-June 2008, David Rouzer was named as a lobbyist working for Jenkins Hill Consulting, LLC, which lobbied on behalf of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. with respect to the FDA regulation of tobacco products. Jenkins Hill Consulting reported $20,000 in lobbying related income for the client as a result of the activity. [U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Jenkins Hill Consulting LLC, Filed 10/17/08]
July-September 2008: Rouzer Lobbied On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. With Respect To FDA Regulation Of Tobacco Products. According to the U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure database, from July-September 2008, David Rouzer was named as a lobbyist working for Jenkins Hill Consulting, LLC, which lobbied on behalf of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. with respect to the FDA regulation of tobacco products. Jenkins Hill Consulting reported $20,000 in lobbying related income for the client as a result of the activity. [U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Jenkins Hill Consulting LLC, Filed 4/2/09]
October-December 2008: Rouzer Lobbied On Behalf Of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. With Respect To FDA Regulation Of Tobacco Products. According to the U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure database, from October-December 2008, David Rouzer was named as a lobbyist working for Jenkins Hill Consulting, LLC, which lobbied on behalf of Japan Tobacco International USA, Inc. with respect to the FDA regulation of tobacco products. Jenkins Hill Consulting reported $20,000 in lobbying related income for the client as a result of the activity. [U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Jenkins Hill Consulting LLC, Filed 1/21/09]