Two American senators from the Republican Party sent a letter asking the Donald Trump administration to act against restrictions imposed by Brazil and other countries on smokeless tobacco and nicotine products, known as electronic cigarettes, or vapes.
The letter was sent on March 13 to the head of the office, Jamieson Greer, by senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, both from North Carolina, a state with a strong presence of tobacco growers.
In the document, they say that “discriminatory practices, which often take the form of import bans on smokeless nicotine products, are not designed to ensure public health, but rather to protect domestic cigarette producers in these countries.”
In addition to Brazil, parliamentarians mention Argentina, India, Türkiye and Vietnam. They also mention a commitment from US President Donald Trump to “address unfair practices for all sectors of the economy”.
The senators’ position gained support from groups linked to free trade in the USA, such as the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), who claim that restrictions tend to limit consumer choices, favor illicit markets and hinder international competition. Next Tuesday (12), TPA will hold a webinar on the topic.
Electronic cigarettes are banned in Brazil, which in theory prevents imports. But the lack of supervision
For the tobacco industry, they offer hope for reversing the global decline in cigarette consumption. This is contested by experts in the medical field and by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency).
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