Conservative parents group calls on Trump to target illegal Chinese vapes

“It’s a multibillion-dollar industry, and China specifically is profiting off of it, so it’s not just a health concern,” said Emily Stack, executive director of Moms for America Action, in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “It becomes a national security concern as well.”

Stack said the group wants Trump to directly confront Beijing over what it describes as the role of Chinese manufacturing and exports in fueling the U.S. illicit vape market.

“We are aware that you are profiting off and doing harm to children, and if you want to have a good working relationship with America going forward, this is something we are very concerned about and will be cracking down on in our country,” she said, describing the message she believes should be delivered to Chinese leadership.

Stack said that much of the illicit market is difficult to police because products are often disguised in unconventional packaging.

She also added that enforcement gaps at both federal and local levels have made it harder to curb the flow of illegal products.

“A lot of local law enforcement are not overly informed on some of these issues, and they don’t know these products are such a high priority,” Stack said.

The group argues that stronger coordination between federal agencies, Customs and Border Protection, and local authorities is necessary to address what it describes as a fast-moving illicit trade network.

Stack also said the organization believes marketing plays a major role in youth uptake, particularly through social media and flavored products.

“These products are being marketed toward younger individuals because it’s easier to get them hooked then, and they’ll keep buying them,” she said.

The group estimated that 80% of the U.S. vape market is made up of illegal imports.

Currently, the Federal Food and Drug Administration has approved 45 E-Cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems. Unauthorized e-cigarettes are frequently sold near schools and military bases, putting minors and service members at risk, according to the Department of Justice.

While youth vaping rates have gradually declined in recent years, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show that more than 1.63 million middle and high school students still reported using e-cigarettes in 2024. Among those users, more than 67% said they had attempted to quit within the past year, while nearly 88% reported using flavored products.

Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services, through the Food and Drug Administration, and Customs and Border Protection seized over 4.7 million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products with an estimated retail value of $86.5 million. In total, Chinese e-cigarette exports to the United States surpassed $10 billion in 2025.

Lawmakers are taking steps toward limiting the sale of illegal vapes in the U.S. Last year, Congress passed a resolution requiring the FDA to allocate at least $200 million of its $712 million budget toward regulating the e-cigarette industry.