170% Tariffs Likely to Increase Cost of Chinese E-Cigarettes

Vaping in the United States has seen significant changes and faced many challenges over the last 10 years. This includes e-cigarettes being classified as tobacco products and millions of products subsequently being made illegal to sell, and the demonization of disposables and fruit flavors as being the downfall of American youth. But now, vapers across the U.S. could see the cost of their favorite e-cigarette products increase significantly, thanks to Donald Trump’s potentially costly trade war with China. 

Before the tariff announcements on “Liberation Day”, e-cigarette products imported from China were already subject to a 45% tariff. This figure includes the 25% tariff President Trump introduced in 2018 specifically on vaping products, as well as the additional 10% increase on ALL goods from China announced in February 2025 and another 10% just a month later. 

But that now seems an extremely moderate step compared to what happened next.

U.S. – China Tariffs Timeline

The trade and tariff battle between the United States and China is obviously complex and has been fought for a long time. Here is a simplified timeline of how tariffs have and could affect the cost and availability of vape products in the U.S. 

2018 – President Trump, during his first term, imposes a 25% tariff on all e-cigarette products coming from China. The 25% tariff is then extended by President Biden. 

Feb/March 2025 – The U.S. imposes a 10% tariff on all goods imported from China in February (on top of existing tariffs for some specific Chinese imports). This is swiftly followed by an additional 10% across-the-board tariff in early March. 

April 2, 2025 – Dubbed “Liberation Day” by President Trump, the U.S. announces tariff increases on imports from almost every country in the world. The baseline tariff on Chinese goods is increased by 34% for a total tariff of 79%. 

April 4, 2025 – China imposes a retaliatory 34% tariff increase on all U.S. imports. President Donald Trump threatens an extra 50% tariff on China. 

April 9, 2025 – The U.S. increases the 34% tariff on China to 84% after President Xi refuses to back down to Trump’s threats. China then retaliated by increasing the tariff on U.S. goods to 84%. Including the earlier 25% tariff and two 10% tariffs, this brought the total tariffs on vaping products made in China to 129%.

April 10, 2025 – The United States increases tariffs on China to 125%. The White House later clarified that the total tariff amount on China is 145% due to China continuing to allow the import of fentanyl to the U.S.

After the tit-for-tat retaliatory face-off between the U.S. and China during the first weeks of April, the tariff level on all imported Chinese goods now stands at 145%. Because the 2018 e-cigarette tariff of 25% is likely to be applied in addition to other trade tariffs, vape products coming from China could soon see a 170% price increase. 

The unpredictability and uncertainty of Trump’s trade policies mean that there are many ifs, buts, and maybes to consider. That level of price increase will only be seen IF the U.S. and China can’t reach some sort of trade agreement in the next several days.

Even if they don’t, manufacturers, importers, and retailers could choose to absorb some of the increase rather than pass 100% of it on to consumers. The existing (pre-tariff) stocks held by retailers could delay the impact, but some could choose to raise prices almost immediately as a buffer against increased future wholesale prices. 

American-Made Vapes

Despite the 25% tariff on e-cigarettes introduced in 2018, nearly all mass-market vape products continue to be made in China. Some e-liquid brands are based in the U.S., as are several vape device brands, but these are few and far between. There is basically no vape manufacturing in America, and indeed, very little outside Asia. China has been mass-producing e-cigarettes for a couple of decades. They have the factories, the tooling, the know-how, and access to low-cost labor and materials. 

The 25% tariff didn’t change that, and it is unlikely that these massive new tariffs (if they remain in place) will either. Even if massive new U.S. vape factories were to spring up in a country where getting marketing authorization for products is incredibly difficult, most of the materials and components would continue to be made in China. That means U.S. vapers don’t have the option to avoid the tariff increase by “buying American”; they will simply have to swallow the cost increase or switch to something cheaper, like smoking. 

Vapers could never be certain what effects a second Trump term would mean for vaping in the United States, but other than the sudden announcement of a complete federal ban, a potential 170% price increase almost overnight has to be at the top of the list of things we didn’t want or expect.