Trump wins U.S. election | Expert analysis on e-cigarette policy direction under the next administration

Nov.06.2024
Trump wins U.S. election | Expert analysis on e-cigarette policy direction under the next administration
Tom Beaudet, CEO of U.S. compliance firm Accorto, reviewed the effectiveness of past bipartisan policies and predicts that the FDA will improve its review process, allowing e-cigarette products to gain market approval more quickly in the future.

The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election have been revealed, with Donald Trump elected as the new president. As the largest e-cigarette market in the world, the direction and regulatory policies of the U.S. market have significant global implications. How the new administration will regulate e-cigarettes and the future of the U.S. e-cigarette market are questions drawing global industry attention. As a leading global vaping technology media and think tank, 2Firsts quickly connected with U.S. compliance experts to provide the most authoritative analysis.

 

Tom Beaudet, CEO of U.S. compliance firm Accorto, shared with 2Firsts his thoughts on the regulatory approaches and actions of both the Trump administration and the current Democratic government on e-cigarettes. He emphasized that, during the current administration's four years, only 9 harm-reduction product applications were approved, despite millions of applications being submitted. He predicts that under the next administration, the FDA may gradually establish a clearer market entry pathway, helping companies that submit complete scientific data gain market access more quickly.

 

Trump wins U.S. election | Expert analysis on e-cigarette policy direction under the next administration
Accorto CEO Tom Beaudet | Image source: 2Firsts

 

Read the full perspective from Tom Beaudet:

 

  • Several weeks ago, ex President Donald Trump made the statement that he saved flavored vapes in 2020 and that, if he is elected again, he will save flavors again. However, it must be remembered that flavored closed pod systems were banned during the Trump presidency.

 

  • During the past 4 years, FDA has only approved 9 new harm reduction products, although applications have been submitted for millions of new products.  Although the vast majority of those applications were not complete with the scientific data needed for substantive review by the CTP Office of Science, several companies did submit high quality applications and are still awaiting a final decision.  Many question why we should expect anything different under another Democratic Party administration.

 

  • There is hope, regardless of who walks away victorious on November 5.  The US VTA, led by their president Tony Abud, has been aggressively working to educate members of Congress from both parties about the life saving potential of Nicotine Harm Reduction products and the importance of making changes at FDA to repair the currently broken review process.  Regardless of who wins tomorrow, we should expect to see improvements in the PMTA review process where applications who spend the money and time to submit high quality applications have a known and proven pathway to a Market Granted Order.  As more products are approved and we develop a pool of predicate products to reference, the known pathway to success will be come more and more established.

 


 

2Firsts will continue to bring the latest reports and interpretations on U.S. e-cigarette policies.

 

Disclaimer: This article represents only the views of the expert.

JUUL Purchasers Ask Ninth Circuit to Preserve Antitrust Classes in Case Over Altria’s $12.8 Billion Investment
JUUL Purchasers Ask Ninth Circuit to Preserve Antitrust Classes in Case Over Altria’s $12.8 Billion Investment
Private antitrust litigation stemming from Altria's 2018 $12.8 billion investment for a 35% economic interest in JUUL is advancing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Direct purchasers, indirect purchasers and indirect resellers of JUUL products filed answering briefs this week seeking to preserve class certifications granted by a California federal court in February. Altria and JUUL argue that individual consumers and large distributors differ too much in purchasing terms to remain in a single direct-purchaser class, while a separate dispute concerns whether California antitrust law can apply to indirect purchasers across 27 jurisdictions. A September trial has been put on hold during the appeal.
Sep.23
South Korea Fully Reviews Nicotine-Analog and Nicotine-Free Vape Liquid Imports, With Over 99% From China and Chinese Supply-Chain Documents Under Scrutiny
South Korea Fully Reviews Nicotine-Analog and Nicotine-Free Vape Liquid Imports, With Over 99% From China and Chinese Supply-Chain Documents Under Scrutiny
Korea Customs Service has tightened import controls on nicotine-analog and nicotine-free e-cigarette liquids, placing the products under 100% document review and subjecting all e-cigarette liquid import declarations to pre-clearance ingredient analysis. As of September 20, 2026, South Korea had imported about 15 metric tons of nicotine-analog liquids, 99.99% from China, and about 316 metric tons of nicotine-free liquids, including roughly 315 metric tons, or 99.7%, from China. The measures follow South Korea's April expansion of its tobacco definition to include synthetic nicotine products and include new checks on Chinese manufacturing, transaction and export documentation.
Sep.24
Special Report | Can Nicotine Be Replaced? 6-MN Is Already on the Market While Key Human Evidence Is Still Missing
Special Report | Can Nicotine Be Replaced? 6-MN Is Already on the Market While Key Human Evidence Is Still Missing
Nicotine analogues such as 6-methylnicotine are already appearing in e-cigarettes and oral pouches, even as key human evidence remains limited. A new Nixodine-S study adds nonclinical data showing differences from nicotine in cytotoxicity and receptor activity, while independent studies point to a more complex toxicological picture. With supply-chain activity growing and FDA seeking clearer authority over nicotine analogues, the industry now faces a larger question: what evidence is needed before these substances can credibly replace nicotine?
SCIENCE
Sep.23
Altria Showcases Ploom, Marlboro Heated Tobacco Sticks and Non-Nicotine Energy Products at NACS Show 2026
Altria Showcases Ploom, Marlboro Heated Tobacco Sticks and Non-Nicotine Energy Products at NACS Show 2026
At the 2026 NACS Show, Altria displayed Ploom devices alongside imagery of Marlboro-branded heated tobacco sticks, while also featuring RIOT Energy and Proper Wild non-nicotine products. The booth showcased on! PLUS nicotine pouches, including 12 mg variants not listed among FDA-authorized products as of October 9, and NJOY e-cigarettes. Altria also presented convenience-store traffic figures highlighting its retail presence. 2Firsts examines the company's expanded product portfolio, non-nicotine business activities and the regulatory status of products displayed at the show.
EXPO
Oct.10
UK-Listed Consumer Goods Group Supreme Sees Vape Duty as Potential Consolidation Opportunity, Holds FY27 Outlook
UK-Listed Consumer Goods Group Supreme Sees Vape Duty as Potential Consolidation Opportunity, Holds FY27 Outlook
UK-listed consumer goods group Supreme plc says it continues to expect FY27 trading to meet market expectations as the Vaping Products Duty takes effect on October 1, while maintaining a comparatively positive view of the new tax and compliance regime. Supreme has said the framework could increase compliance complexity for smaller operators and contribute to market consolidation, while its manufacturing, compliance and distribution scale may allow it to gain share. Its 88Vape brand will retain its value positioning.
Sep.18
Juul Displays FDA-Authorized JUUL2, Highlights Age Verification at NACS Show 2026
Juul Displays FDA-Authorized JUUL2, Highlights Age Verification at NACS Show 2026
At the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, Juul Labs displayed its JUUL2 e-cigarette system alongside existing products, age-verification messaging and mobile coupons, 2Firsts observed. The JUUL2 device and Virginia Tobacco and Polar Menthol pods received FDA marketing authorization in August 2026. Booth materials highlighted longer battery life, greater e-liquid capacity and connected-device features. A TruAge sign and a mobile coupon presentation also featured at the booth, with weekly offers available to age-verified adult nicotine consumers at participating retailers.
EXPO
Oct.09