2FIRSTS | Special Report | 71 U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Elevate Illicit Vape Crackdown to U.S.–China Trade Negotiations
71 U.S. Republican lawmakers urged the government to address illicit vape products in U.S.-China trade negotiations, citing national security and public health risks.Summary
A group of 71 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Representative Mike Carey, has called for the elevation of illicit vape enforcement to the level of U.S.-China trade negotiations. In a March 4, 2026 letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the lawmakers expressed concerns about the risks associated with unauthorized vape products, including national security, cybersecurity, youth exposure, and links to organized crime. They argue that the illicit vape trade has expanded beyond a domestic regulatory issue and now impacts broader international commerce. The lawmakers requested that federal agencies incorporate this issue into ongoing and future trade discussions with China, seeking commitments to curb the export and distribution of illicit products. Alan Zhao, Co-Founder of 2Firsts, notes that addressing illicit vape trade aligns with the shared interests of both countries and cautions against over-politicizing the issue, which could hinder international cooperation.
(Source：2Firsts)
