EU capitals fail to reach a deal on nicotine taxes

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BRUSSELS — EU finance ministers failed to agree on a watered-down EU tobacco tax law, despite a last-ditch compromise attracting near-unanimous support. Finland and Sweden were initially at loggerheads over the minimum tax rate for nicotine pouches at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. But in the end, they settled their dispute with a compromise rate — only for Malta to become the only country holding out against the proposed text. “We have the agreement of 26,” Irish Finance Minister Simon Harris said after lengthy closed-door talks with the 27 EU country ministers, adding: “Obviously, this is a file that requires unanimity.” The tobacco tax directive has divided countries for months.