Attorney General Steve Marshall has aligned with a coalition of 27 states in urging the Trump Administration to continue its efforts against the importation of illegal Chinese e-cigarettes. These products, valued at billions of dollars, often bypass legal channels and aim to entice youth through colorful packaging, sweet flavors, and video game themes. Despite youth tobacco use being at a historic low, many children who recently reported e-cigarette use were using illicit Chinese-made versions.
"It’s time for America to take a stand against the flood of illegal Chinese e-cigarettes that are circumventing federal law and targeting our youth," stated Attorney General Marshall. "Our coalition urges the Trump administration to take additional actions to keep these harmful and illegal products out of our country and away from our kids."
Chinese e-cigarette manufacturers frequently do not submit their products for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review. Many products are intentionally mislabeled to bypass detection by the FDA or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This oversight allows potentially dangerous products to evade safety inspections.
Attorney General Marshall points out that President Trump initially took steps to restrict these illegal e-cigarettes. However, the coalition claims that these regulations were loosened under President Biden, allowing for a resurgence in their importation. The coalition is now calling for a renewed crackdown by the Trump Administration.
Alabama has joined this effort, led by Iowa, and is supported by states including Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, 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.
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