Big players are pressuring the White House! The US has banned Chinese electronic cigarettes?

According to Reuters news report: Large tobacco companies such as British American Tobacco are lobbying the Trump administration of the US to crack down on illegal e-cigarettes, including imposing import bans on Chinese equipment. Tobacco groups, including British American Tobacco and Altria Group, have complained that although their e-cigarettes or other products waited for many years to obtain sales licenses in the US, some e-cigarette manufacturers have already occupied a considerable market share, despite the authorities' statement that selling these products is illegal. Although the US government has made efforts to curb the circulation of unauthorized e-cigarettes, they still currently hold a dominant position in the market. British American Tobacco estimated last year that unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes accounted for about 70% of the nearly 10 billion pounds (129.3 million US dollars) annual e-cigarette sales in the US. Tobacco companies stated that this has affected their own e-cigarettes and cigarette sales. The US authorities stated that the import of these unauthorized e-cigarettes (including products from Chinese companies) into the US for sale is illegal. The US subsidiary of British American Tobacco, Reynolds American Inc., wrote to the US Trade Representative Office on March 11, calling for the government to ban the import of all disposable e-cigarettes from China and considering imposing additional tariffs on any other e-cigarettes and smoking substitutes made in China. Reynolds wrote in the letter released by the US Trade Representative Office: "The unfair and illegal trade practices of Chinese companies have harmed the interests of Reynolds and other US-based companies." When asked about this letter, a spokesperson for Reynolds said that only products that comply with FDA policies and procedures can continue to be sold on the market. The risks faced by tobacco companies are high. Even if the use of tobacco decreases, strengthening the enforcement of regulatory rules for e-cigarettes and other smoking substitutes can help tobacco companies retain their market share in the US nicotine consumption market.

However, any shift that eliminates or reduces the current legal and regulatory obstacles to unauthorized electronic cigarettes could further accelerate their growth. Two industry consultants told Reuters that large tobacco and electronic cigarette companies hope that the FDA's authorization process will be faster and clearer, but not necessarily more comprehensive. White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt said that President Trump's decision is in the best interests of the American public. An advisor working at a tobacco company said, "Everyone with an interest in this issue is trying to get into the White House. This is no secret." Federal Election Commission documents show that Reynolds donated $10 million to the super political action committee "Make America Great Again" that is allied with Trump. British American Tobacco said that regardless of who takes office in the White House, it will contact legislators from all political parties and advocate for policies that help smokers switch to alternative tobacco products. Save electronic cigarettes? The FDA has been criticized by businesses and some legislators for the slow pace of product authorization and the failure to address the widespread trade problems of unauthorized products. The agency said that more resources are needed to address these challenges. A tobacco company consultant said that tobacco industry executives are worried that if the FDA's Tobacco Products Center is deemed a failure by the government, the center may be dismantled or closed. CTP has become a target for budget cuts and may be affected by the federal public health agency reorganization plan announced last week. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the sale of only 34 tobacco and menthol-flavored electronic cigarette products so far.

Reynolds stated that there is an urgent need to re-examine the way new products are launched, but he supports the FDA's actions of review and authorization. Altria mentioned to Reuters the remarks of its CEO, William Gifford, who told investors in February that Altria hopes to accelerate product authorization and take appropriate enforcement actions against illegal products. However, Tony Abad, the head of the Vapor Technology Association, said that the current system sets very high entry barriers and basically prohibits flavored e-cigarettes that can help smokers quit smoking. Abad told Reuters that major method changes are needed. The association represents "industry-leading manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and retailers of vapor devices, e-liquids, and flavorings". Abad met with Trump in 2024. Subsequently, in September 2024, Trump posted on Truth Social promising to "save" e-cigarettes.