PRESS RELEASE: Regulate Smarter Praises Lawmakers for Urging Action On Dangerous & Illicit Chinese Vapes

Ahead of next month’s U.S.-China trade summit, Coalition reinforces need for strengthened enforcement against Chinese vapes flooding U.S. communities and endangering national security & public health

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), chairman of the Coalition for Smarter Regulation of Nicotine (Regulate Smarter), issued the following statement praising 71 lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives for urging U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer to combat the flow of illicit Chinese e-cigarettes and vapes from flooding into American markets without authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

“Heading into next month’s trade summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, it is absolutely critical that the threat of illicit vapor products is at the forefront of the conversation, and I applaud this group of lawmakers for elevating this important issue,” said Burr. “Right now, more than 8 in 10 vapes sold in in the U.S. are illegal Chinese products entering the marketplace without any FDA oversight, often with outrageously youth-appealing characteristics. Most adult consumers have no idea that what they are buying is illicit and has been illegally smuggled through the border – using ingredients no one has verified.”

In their letter, lawmakers noted, “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. 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.”

Since its inception in 2025, Regulate Smarter has been advocating for common-sense reforms to address the flood of illegal and unregulated tobacco and nicotine products into the U.S., effectively enforce the Tobacco Control Act (TCA) and restore order to the marketplace, emphasizing the need for both enforcement and authorization as part of a comprehensive approach.

Regulate Smarter’s web site is available here https://www.regulate-smarter.org/

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