Overregulation and bans will slow economic growth

Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

Since taking office, President Donald J. Trump has fulfilled his promise of promoting economic growth by lowering taxes and reinvigorating America’s industrial base. As a result, the stock market continues to rise, over 139,000 jobs were added in May, and Biden-era high inflation is dead.

Once again, President Trump proves to be a business-friendly President. Despite the economic fear created by tariffs, The Economist reported on July 6, 2025, “prices in shops are not noticeably higher, unemployment is flat and the S&P 500 index is resurgent, back at all-time highs.” Market Watch reported on July 8, 2025, “the U.S. junk bond market is sending an optimistic message about the economy, despite market volatility around tariffs.” The Trump Administration should continue with a low tax, deregulatory policy prescription, which will continue economic growth and deliver favorable outcomes to wage earners.

However, opportunities for continued economic enhancement are still ripe for executive action by President Trump. Several industries and sectors need saving after years of overregulation and mismanagement, which defined the Biden presidency, especially when it comes to flavored vaping in the U.S.

President Trump already saved the vaping industry in 2019 with his actions to raise the age to purchase nicotine products to 21. His campaign promise to save the industry in the wake of President Biden’s regulatory assault again clearly demonstrates Trump’s understanding of the industry’s value. Saving flavored vapes benefits the American people and is simply good business sense.

Unfortunately, President Trump’s agencies are standing in the way of protecting this industry and the billions in revenue it generates.

The vaping industry has massive benefits for the economy. In the U.S., it accounts for billions in economic output, employs nearly 100,000 Americans, and pays billions in wages and benefits.

If flavored vapes were banned, those tens of thousands of full-time equivalent jobs would be lost. Additionally, the thousands of independent vape shops which rely on the manufacture of these products would go out of business almost immediately.

Despite the economic impact and an explicit directive from President Trump, federal agencies have begun large-scale raids of vapor product shipments entering the country. These raids have quickly caused local vape shops to run out of products. With nothing on their shelves, these small businesses cannot meet the demand of the consumer.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are undermining President Trump’s promise to save an industry. Raids on vape shipments are a complete overreach of the authority of federal agencies. By conducting sweeping import refusals, federal agencies enacted a de facto ban on flavored vapes in the United States – something we know does not work and harms business and consumers alike.

Flavored vaping bans at the state level have proven to be a complete disaster for businesses. In New York, these bans have decimated the hundreds of millions that the industry generated and impacted the thousands of New York jobs the industry supports. These economic losses disproportionately affect small businesses and the lower income Americans. If flavored vaping bans can have this drastic of an impact in one state, imagine the consequences at a national level.

This problem has become a national issue, and this problem is impeding investments in our nation. Vape manufacturing companies want to invest in the United States. They wish to build their factories here, employ Americans, and move the supply chain to our shores. This will not happen if shipments at the border continue to be stopped. If companies cannot count on their products making it into U.S. markets, they can not confidently finance moving production to the U.S.

There’s a massive population of American vapers who use flavored vapes based on the science, which proves they’re the most effective alternative to cigarettes. Vapers showed up to the polls in November and threw their support behind President Trump because he promised to save these products. Now, rogue federal agencies are ignoring the directives of the President and targeting safe and effective products.

Made in America vapes can’t exist under the current regulatory environment.  The President should stop agencies from destroying the booming vaping industry and allow American consumers their right to choose.

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