Premium Cigar News and Notes

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Mar 26

Trump Administration Announces New Section 301 Investigation

On March 11th and 12th, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced a new round of investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, targeting the…

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Mar 26

Court of International Trade Issues Refund Order for Certain IEEPA Tariffs

Recent developments in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) have provided additional clarity regarding refunds for tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). On March 4,…

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Mar 18

USTR Expands Section 301 Investigations to Additional Countries, Including Key Cigar-Producing Nations

On consecutive days last week (March 11th & March 12th), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the initiation of a new round of investigations into the…

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Mar 17

South Dakota Legislature Approves Bill Allowing New Cigar Bars

Legislation that would allow for the creation of new cigar bars across South Dakota has now passed both chambers of the state legislature. What HB 1215 Does South Dakota’s current…

Mar 17

Restrictive Tobacco Regulatory Proposal Amended in Oregon

Earlier this year, Oregon lawmakers considered legislation that would have significantly expanded restrictions on the sale and distribution of tobacco products within the state. Although the proposal initially posed concerns…

Mar 02

West Virginia Proposal Would Dramatically Increase Taxes on Premium Cigars

A newly introduced bill in the West Virginia Legislature would impose a significant tax increase on premium cigars, sharply raising costs for adult consumers and specialty retailers across the state.…

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Mar 02

Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs, Trump Administration Responds With New Tariff

On Friday, February 20th, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, a case challenging the Trump Administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic…

Feb 26

The New Trade Landscape and Its Consequences for Premium Cigars

The most salient theme in recent months is trade policy and its direct impact on our capacity to grow, produce, and market premium cigars. The Trump administration’s 2025-2026 tariff policies…

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Feb 16

South Dakota Moves to Open the Door for New Cigar Bars

A bill introduced in the South Dakota Legislature would allow for the creation of new cigar bars across the state, giving local governments authority to issue licenses for establishments where…

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Feb 16

Hawaii HB 1532 Seeks to Correct an Unintended Shipping Ban

Recently, legislators in Hawaii introduced House Bill 1532 (HB 1532), which is a targeted legislative fix aimed at correcting an unintended consequence of the state’s tobacco shipping laws. In recent…

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Cigar News

June 10, 2025

Massachusetts: We are living in times where the demand for transparency and the mistrust of government is as high as it has been in generations. Local, state and federal elected officials and policymakers are under the microscope daily to make sure they respect democracy and the will of the people.

April 28, 2025

Wisconsin: New legislation aims to allow new cigar bars in the Badger State state for the first time in more than 15 years.

March 14, 2025

Federal: A bill introduced on the Congressional House floor today seeks to exempt premium, handmade cigars from FDA regulation, as established by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The legislation, being brought forth by Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida’s 19th district, would exclude cigars from its broader “tobacco product” categorization defined by the act.

January 23, 2025

Washington, DC: Cigar Rights of America (CRA) has been hard at work fighting against Generational Tobacco Ban (GTB) policies since they were first introduced at the state level in 2023. While GTB proposals continue to gain traction through normalization and introduction in states across the country, the expansion of these initiatives along with more restrictive regulatory proposals reflects a broader acceptance of extreme regulatory policies being pushed by anti-tobacco advocates. Last week, these extreme measures took another step forward when SB 1165 was introduced in Hawaii's legislature - this bill would establish state-level limits on nicotine content in tobacco products. This introduction represents a watershed moment in tobacco control policy. This first-of-its-kind state legislation could set a precedent for other states to follow, potentially at an even faster pace than GTB policies.

January 23, 2025

Washignton, DC: In a significant development for the premium cigar industry, the Trump Administration has taken steps to ease regulatory pressures by halting key proposed rules. The Administration has moved both the Nicotine Limits Rule and the Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practices (TPMP) Rule to "Long Term Actions," signaling they will not be pursued at this time. This shift provides much-needed relief for the tobacco industry as manufacturers and retailers had been preparing for potentially stringent regulations.

January 21, 2025

Washington, DC: On Thursday, January 16, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a groundbreaking rule that would limit nicotine levels in all combustible tobacco products—except premium cigars and hookah tobacco—to 0.7 mg of nicotine per gram of product, a threshold considered "non-addictive." This rule, which excludes vapes and other non-combustible products, marks a significant step in the FDA’s efforts to reduce nicotine addiction among smokers.

January 17, 2025

Washington, DC: In a bold and unprecedented move, Indiana, Hawaii, and Massachusetts have introduced legislation aimed at implementing a "Nicotine-Free Generation" policy, raising alarms about government overreach, economic harm, and the potential for widespread unintended consequences. Indiana’s Senate Bill 322 (SB 322), Hawaii’s Senate Bill 429 (SB 429), and Massachusetts’ House Bill 2372 and Senate Bill 1317 propose banning the sale of tobacco products to individuals born after specific dates—June 30, 2004, in Indiana—January 1, 2005, in Hawaii—and on or before January 1, 2006 in Massachusetts, effectively creating a permanent prohibition for future generations, regardless of their age.

January 17, 2025

Indiana: Add Indiana to the growing list of states and nations that are considering generational tobacco bans, prohibitions that would make it illegal for future generations to ever legally purchase a tobacco product. On Monday, State Senator Ed Charbonneau, a Republican representing the 5th District of Indiana, introduced Senate Bill No. 322, which would prohibit the sale of tobacco, an e-liquid or an electronic cigarette to any individual born after June 30, 2004.

January 16, 2025

Washington, DC: In a significant decision, a federal judge in Texas has blocked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from enforcing its rule requiring graphic warnings on cigarette packages and advertisements, a regulation that was set to take effect in February 2026. The ruling by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker is the latest development in a contentious legal battle between tobacco companies and the FDA over the extent of its regulatory authority under the Tobacco Control Act (TCA).

December 24, 2024

Massachusetts: The push to protect premium cigars and small businesses has reached a critical stage in Massachusetts as plans have been unveiled to introduce a statewide "Nicotine Free Generation" (NFG) bill in January 2025. If passed, this law would prohibit the sale of tobacco products—including premium cigars—to individuals born after the law’s enactment, effectively creating a permanent generational ban.

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