U.S. e-cigarette imports top $342 million in 2016

The $342 million in U.S. imports related to electronic cigarettes during 2016 resulted in $9 million in tariff revenue, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog agency.    The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recorded $342 million in e-cigarette related imports during 2016, which resulted in $9 million in tariff revenue.
   The congressional watchdog agency, which conducted the study on behalf of the Senate Finance Committee, had suspected back in 2015 that most e-cigarette products were imported into the United States. In late 2015, the federal government added several 10-digit codes for imports of e-cigarettes to the U.S. harmonized tariff schedule.
   Over the last decade, use of electronic cigarettes, known as e-cigarettes, in the United States have substantially increased. An e-cigarette device typically contains a battery, heating element, and a cartridge or tank that can be empty or filled with liquid.
   The GAO found that although e-cigarettes, related parts, and liquid were imported from 41 countries in 2016, about 91 percent of these imports originated from China.
   “Imports from China also accounted for at least 98 percent of customs value for devices with nicotine and parts with and without nicotine,” GAO said.
   U.S. e-cigarette imports cleared customs at 34 ports of entry, with the top five ports of entry being Cleveland, Los Angeles, Savannah, Norfolk, and Seattle at 81 percent by value in 2016.