Senators Call for Comprehensive Strategy to Combat Illegal Chinese Vapes

As China continues to flood communities across America with dangerous illegal vapes, Senate Republicans are calling on both the U.S Treasury Department and the United States Trade Representative to use their enforcement and diplomatic authorities to combat the illegal Chinese vape industry and prevent future shipments from entering the United States.

Breitbart News reported on a February 3 letter that more than a dozen Senators signed and sent to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer. The Senators cited the Chinese government’s role in exporting hundreds of millions of illicit e-cigarettes and how those products can be used to fund military or technological initiatives to undermine American economic and strategic interests, and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) reports that illicit Chinese e-cigarettes are being used as part of a trade-based money laundering scheme to move fentanyl proceeds on behalf of Mexican cartels.

In urging for additional action, the joint letter also acknowledges the “aggressive” enforcement efforts already underway by the administration. “We fully support President Trump’s aggressive, multi-agency enforcement actions taken to confront this pressing threat as addressing illegal activity of this magnitude and consequence requires a comprehensive strategy and response,” the letter stated.