Chinese vaping crackdown threatens to snuff out industry

Beijing could hike taxes by 400% on industry now under little supervision

20210628N Vaping in Beijing

A saleswoman demonstrates vaping at a shop that sells e-cigarette products in Beijing. © Reuters

TAKASHI KAWAKAMI, Nikkei staff writer

GUANGZHOU -- China seeks tighter scrutiny of electronic cigarettes, with plans to expand regulations on traditional tobacco use to cover vaping products and possibly quintuple their tax rate.

"Enforcement on ID requirements has really gotten strict since last year," grumbles a worker at a RELX shop in the city of Guangzhou. RELX dominates China's vaping market with a more than 60% share.

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