PRESS RELEASE: Regulate Smarter Statement On Trump-Xi Meeting

Coalition praises Trump Administration on enforcement gains, urges continued action to curb illicit market coming from China

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Coalition for Smarter Regulation of Nicotine (Regulate Smarter) today issued the following statement on President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping:

"As President Trump sits down with Xi Jinping, the flood of illicit Chinese nicotine products remains a clear threat to American consumer safety and national security. The Trump Administration has delivered meaningful progress on the enforcement front, with Operation Red Mist seizing 18 million illegal vape units and a Government Accountability Office report confirming a fourfold increase in illicit e-cigarette enforcement in 2025 alone. To fully defeat this black market, crackdowns must be paired with accelerated authorizations of more smoke-free, reduced-harm products from manufacturers who are subject to strict FDA oversight and meet the agency’s scientific and public health standards.”

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The Coalition for Smarter Regulation of Nicotine (Regulate Smarter) is comprised of members representing manufacturers, distributors, and retailers committed to operating responsibly within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated marketplace. Regulate Smarter supports an FDA regulatory system that delivers on the original harm reduction vision of the Tobacco Control Act. Chaired by former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the Regulate Smarter Coalition is committed to advancing a modern, common-sense approach to regulating tobacco and nicotine that is grounded in science. To learn more, visit: https://www.regulate-smarter.org/