BALTIMORE: The American Beverage Association has joined a campaign against a regional tax that it says could have national implications on its industry.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has proposed expanding the city's beverage tax from 2 cents to 5 cents per container and making the tax permanent. The current tax was enacted in 2010 and is scheduled to end in 2013.

If the tax increase is approved, the price of a 12 pack of soda would jump 60 cents, and ...