An arbitration panel has ruled against the Cherokee Nation in a tobacco tax dispute with the state of Oklahoma.

The tribe sought a lower tobacco tax rate under the "Most Favored Nations" clause of its compact with the state. The tribe cited lower tax cigarettes being sold by the Kaw Nation and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.

The panel, however, said the clause only applies to compacts that were signed after February 9, 2004. The Kaw and Otoe-Missouria were pre-existing deals, the panel said.

An arbitration panel previously found the tribe was violating the tobacco compact by selling low-tax cigarettes.

Get the Story:
Panel rules against tribe on cigarette tax (The Tulsa World 6/24)

Related Stories:
Some smokeshops still selling low-tax cigarettes (6/23)
Judge in Oklahoma reinstates tribal tobacco rule (5/16)
Cherokee Nation lifts tobacco tax for border retailers (5/14)
Cherokee Nation weighs tobacco tax suspension (04/25)
Oklahoma weighs action on tribal tobacco (4/23)
State rejects lower tobacco tax for Cherokee Nation (4/21)
Cherokee Nation wants lower tobacco tax rate (4/9)
Muscogee Nation considers tobacco tax compact (4/3)
Editorial: What's next in tobacco compact fight? (4/1)
Ruling faults Cherokee Nation on tobacco compact (3/28)