Attorney General Raúl Labrador has aligned Idaho with a coalition of states to urge the Trump Administration to take action against the illegal importation of e-cigarettes from China, which are designed to appeal to children.
According to the coalition, a significant amount of these Chinese e-cigarettes have flooded the U.S. market, effectively targeting younger demographics through bright packaging, sweet flavors, and themes associated with video games. While youth tobacco usage is at a historic low, data indicates that a majority of underage e-cigarette users have purchased these illegal Chinese-made products.
Attorney General Labrador stated, "Illegally imported e-cigarettes from China continue to flood the U.S. market with products designed specifically to appeal to children. These unregulated devices often bypass federal review, evade customs enforcement, and contain unknown substances. Idaho is joining a coalition of states asking the Trump Administration to reestablish strong enforcement mechanisms to protect public health and ensure these unlawful products are kept out of the hands of American kids."
The United States has seen many Chinese e-cigarette manufacturers and distributors skip the vital step of FDA review. These products are often mislabeled to evade detection by U.S. authorities, circumvent inspections, and potentially contain unidentified and harmful chemicals.
The coalition claims that while President Trump had previously worked to reduce the importation of these e-cigarettes, the current administration has eased restrictions, contributing to the continued flow of these products into the U.S. market. The states involved are now calling for President Trump to extend his earlier efforts and implement stronger regulatory measures to prevent further illegal imports.
The states, including Idaho, are prepared to collaborate with the Trump Administration to hold manufacturers and distributors accountable for placing American youth at risk. The letter, initiated by Iowa, was supported by states such as Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, and the territory of Guam.