The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), Washington, D.C., has launched an investigation into certain disposable and closed-system electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and their components.
The investigation follows a complaint filed Jan. 13 by Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co., RAI Services Co. and Reynolds Marketing Services. A supplement was filed on Feb. 3, according to the ITC.
The complaint alleges that certain imported ENDS products may violate Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. It claims that certain devices and components may involve unfair methods of competition tied to alleged violations of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, state or local flavor bans, state directory requirements and state or local excise tax laws. The complaint asserts that these alleged violations could threaten substantial injury to a U.S. industry.
The illegal vapor market has been an ongoing concern for convenience retailers. The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and four associations affiliated with the convenience store and travel center industries in 2025 called on the White House to crack down on the sale of illegal vape products from China in the marketplace. “Vape and e-cigarette products have been flooding our country for years and drawing business away from law-abiding retailers,” the associations said in a letter sent to the Trump administration in July.
Reynolds has requested that the ITC issue a general exclusion order or a limited exclusion order along with cease-and-desist orders. The ITC has identified the following respondents in the investigation:
- D&A Distribution, LLC, doing business as Strictly E-cig, Savannah, Georgia
- Ecto World LLC, doing business as Demand Vape, Buffalo, New York
- Geek Miracle (HK) Limited Unit, Hong Kong, China
- Guangdong Qisitech Co., Ltd., Guangdong, China
- Headway Funding Inc., doing business as Jewel Distribution, Agoura Hills, California
- Heaven Gifts International Ltd, Shenzhen, China
- iMiracle HK Limited, Hong Kong, China
- iMiracle (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China
- Magellan Technology Inc., Buffalo, New York
- Midwest Goods Inc., doing business as Midwest Distribution Illinois, Bensenville, Illinois
- RZ Smoke Inc., Suffield, Connecticut
- Safa Goods, LLC, Punta Gorda, Florida
- Shenzhen Geekvape Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China
- Texas Central Distribution LLC, Houston, Texas
- Unishow USA, Inc., Houston, Texas
- Zhuhai Qisitech Co., Ltd., Guangdong Province, China
The ITC said it has not made any decision on the merits of the case but will assign the case to one of its administrative law judges, who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The administrative law judges will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337 and that the initial determination is subject to review by the commission, the ITC said.
The ITC said it will make a final determination in the investigation at the “earliest practicable time.”
Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the ITC said it will set a target date for completing the investigation.
ITC said that remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.
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