Nicotine Alternatives and the Trump Administration: What's Next?
As retailers in the US nicotine pouch market reflect on the 2024 presidential election, it’s crucial to evaluate how the policies under a renewed Trump administration will shape the landscape for smokers looking for nicotine alternatives.
US President-elect Trump has voiced his intention to support vaping in the past, but his track record shows that enacted policy doesn't always align with promises made.
Head of External Affairs
It leaves us wondering whether Republican promises to support nicotine alternatives will lead to real change or simply maintain the status quo?
Our Industry's Future Relies on Streamlined Policy
Nicotine pouch consumers in the US deserve clear, science-backed, and accessible alternatives. Smoking rates remain alarmingly high, with millions at risk of preventable, smoking-related deaths if effective alternatives don’t become more widely available. However, it’s worth questioning whether Trump's statements on supporting nicotine alternatives will translate into regulatory changes that genuinely benefit US consumers, or if his approach will prioritize short-term business interests over long-term public health outcomes.
Trump announced on his own social media platform that he would "save vaping again" as he had previously saved flavored vaping in 2019. However, specific policy proposals for how his administration would make this happen have not been clear. In 2019, he also faced backlash for a proposed vaping flavor ban that was only softened after input from pro-vaping advocates, raising concerns about his commitment to a stable, supportive environment for nicotine alternatives.
The newly re-elected President will guide the FDA to prioritize the remaining e-cigarette PMTAs and emphasize that flavored products could be permitted. His administration’s policies will also open pathways for advancement, but if executed randomly, they will create a chaotic regulatory landscape where inconsistencies suppress the development of alternatives. If his rhetoric leads to sudden changes that weaken FDA oversight, it will pave the way for harmful products to flood the market, which would jeopardize public health rather than protect it.
He will likely take a tougher stance on China, which will include tariffs on importing products such as e-cigarettes. This type of policy could undermine the US vaping sector which is currently reliant on importing Chinese hardware, but the hope is that the US domestic vape manufacturing sector will come to life and be the savior. But without any support or framework, the natural progression for this to happen does not seem possible. Tony Abboud, executive director of the VTA, stated that the Biden administration was trying to shut down small businesses. For these reasons, saving the vaping industry, creating a domestic manufacturing sector to rival China or making flavored e-cigarette products legal is achievable with executive policy.
Moreover, a relaxed approach risks giving combustible tobacco products an advantage over alternatives like nicotine pouches, impacting lives and the prospect of consumers making better decisions. In the end, it is likely his administration may rollback the menthol ban proposed by the Biden administration, inadvertently keeping menthol cigarettes — an option that current smokers might switch back to if other alternatives are not made more accessible.
Unwavering Commitment to Consumers
Nicokick's Head of External Affairs, Markus Lindblad, highlights our commitment to helping consumers access alternatives to smoking as a leading nicotine pouch retailer, but also reinforces our belief in restricting access to underage consumers.
We call on the newly elected administration to prioritize clear, long-term policies that favor alternatives like nicotine pouches. A predictable regulatory environment is necessary to build trust, empower consumers, and safeguard public health.
Head of External Affairs
Our promise to you as a Nicokick customer remains the same: We will continue to advocate for fair policies that bring you alternative options, hold the industry accountable, and ensure that new generations aren’t picking up unnecessary, unhealthy habits. Join us in urging the Trump administration to deliver on its promises to save lives by supporting safer alternatives — not just in words, but in actions that bring about real, lasting regulatory change.
