A group of 71 House lawmakers led by Rep. Mike Carey (R-Ohio) is urging the Trump administration to crack down on illicit Chinese e-cigarettes entering the United States without authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.
In a letter sent to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer, the lawmakers urged administration officials to address the issue and to consider the national security and public health threats these vapes pose in any future trade negotiations with the Chinese government.
“These [Chinese vapes] are a threat to national security,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Department of Justice has reported that unauthorized vapes are frequently smuggled from China and sold near schools and military bases, putting minors and service members at risk.”
Lawmakers added that the Drug Enforcement Administration has investigated vape shops in proximity to military installations and found that many are owned or operated by foreign nationals suspected of deliberately targeting military personnel.
“The emergence of Chinese ‘smart vapes’—which connect to smartphones—poses an additional cybersecurity threat,” the letter said.
Lawmakers said that the need for action is urgent.
“Illicit Chinese e-cigarette makers and their U.S. distributors intentionally design and market products to appeal to young people—using candy flavored cartridges, toy-like designs and packaging styled after fashion accessories,” the letter said.
In the letter, the lawmakers said that the illicit e-cigarette trade has also become a revenue stream for Mexican drug cartels.
“E-cigarette sales are illegal in Mexico, but demand for these products still exists which has likely led to the rise of cartel involvement in the sale of these devices,” the letter said. “For these reasons, we strongly urge the USTR to elevate this matter in ongoing trade negotiations with China and to pursue a binding commitment requiring the Chinese government to stop all e-cigarette exports that fail to comply with U.S. and Chinese law. U.S. national security and public health require nothing less.”
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