Vaping Industry Decries Trump's Tariffs Targeting E-Cigarettes
- Proposed duties would cause retail shops to close, owners say
- Threat from tariffs comes as the industry has been surging
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Bryan Robbins smoked for 35 years before vaping helped him quit and prompted him to ditch driving trucks for selling e-cigarettes, first at flea markets and then at his own retail shops in Mississippi.
The 52-year-old is a Donald Trump supporter who agrees with the president’s efforts to crack down on China’s trade practices, but it’s hitting close to home. The of proposed duties -- 25 percent on $16 billion worth of Chinese imports that could go into effect in a month -- includes vaping devices. Most e-cigarettes are made in China, leaving Robbins and his peers without an alternative.