U.S. health officials will ban most flavored e-cigarettes popular with underage teenagers, but with major exceptions that benefit vaping manufacturers, retailers and adults who use the nicotine-emitting devices.

The Trump administration announced Thursday that it will prohibit fruit, candy, mint and dessert flavors from small, cartridge-based e-cigarettes that are popular with high school students.

But menthol and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes will be allowed to remain on the market.

The flavor ban will also entirely exempt large, tank-based vaping devices, which are primarily sold in vape shops that cater to adult smokers.

Associated Press health reporter Matthew Perrone explains that together, the two exemptions represent a significant retreat from President Donald Trump's original plan announced four months ago.

"This is a big step back from what Trump said he was going to do in September when he said that they going to ban all flavors in all types of products," said Perrone.

"There are a number of carve outs here that seem to be favorable to industry who have been lobbying him pretty aggressively in recent months, not to ban all these flavors."

The new policy will preserve a significant portion of the multibillion-dollar vaping market.

And the changes are likely to please both the largest e-cigarette manufacturer, Juul Labs, and thousands of vape shop owners who sell the tank-based systems, which allow users to mix customized flavors.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that typically heat a flavored nicotine solution into an inhalable aerosol.

They have been pitched to adults as a less-harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes, but there is limited data on their ability to help smokers quit.

The Food and Drug Administration has struggled for years to find the appropriate approach to regulating vaping. Under current law, all e-cigarettes are supposed to undergo an FDA review beginning in May. Only those that can demonstrate a benefit for U.S. public health will be permitted to stay on the market.

The flavor ban applies to e-cigarettes that use pre-filled nicotine cartridges mainly sold at gas stations and convenience stores.

Juul is the biggest player in that market, but it previously pulled all of its flavors except menthol and tobacco after coming under intense political scrutiny. Many smaller manufacturers continue to sell sweet, fruity flavors like “grape slushie,” “strawberry cotton candy” and “sea salt blueberry."

The flavor restrictions won't affect the larger specialty devices sold at vape shops, which typically don't admit customers under 21.

These tank-based systems allow users to fill the device with the flavor of their choice. Sales of these devices represent an estimated 40% of the U.S. vaping business, with sales across some 15,000 to 19,000 shops.

"Today's announcement taking a number of these flavors off the market, A number of products is actually a pretty huge step from what came before," said Perrone.

"E-cigarettes and vaping have been pretty much unregulated in the US for many years, and FDA is still trying to figure out how exactly they're going to regulate this space.

In the latest government survey, more than 1 in 4 high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the previous month, despite federal law banning sales to those under 18. Late last month Trump signed a law raising the minimum age to purchase all tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 nationwide.

ARCHIVE: New York - 18 September 2019

1. Various of people vaping

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"The Trump administration is banning most flavors in small cartridge based e-cigarettes that are popular with teens, but they're keeping flavors available for products that a lot of adults use and that are sold in vape shops."

ARCHIVE: New York - 18 September 2019

3. Various of products on a table

ARCHIVE: Biddeford, Maine - 3 September 2019

4. STILL of electronic cigarette pods displayed for sale in shop

ARCHIVE: San Francisco - 17 June 2019

5. STILL of cashier displaying a packet of tobacco-flavored Juul pods

ARCHIVE: New York - 16 September 2019

6. Sign of advertising nicotine content of Juul vaping products

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"This is a big step back from what Trump said he was going to do in September when he said that they going to ban all flavors in all types of products. There are a number of carve outs here that seem to be favorable to industry who have been lobbying him pretty aggressively in recent months, not to ban all these flavors."

ARCHIVE: New York - 18 September 2019

8. Various of couple vaping

9. Various of people vaping

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"When Trump first announced that he was planning to ban nearly all flavors, there was a lot more pressure on the federal government at the time. There was an outbreak of lung illnesses tied to vaping. We now know that that problem was tied to illegal marijuana based vaping products. So there's a little less pressure on the federal government now that that's been determined."

ARCHIVE: Washington DC - 22 November 2019

11. President Donald Trump in listening session at the White House on vaping

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"This is a very big subject and it's a very complex subject. Probably a little bit less compless than some people think. But I'm here to listen and I have very divergent views."

13. Cutaway of listening session

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"E-cigarettes and vaping have been pretty much unregulated in the US for many years, and FDA is still trying to figure out how exactly they're going to regulate this space. So today's announcement taking a number of these flavors off the market, a number of products is actually a pretty huge step from what came before."

ARCHIVE: New York - 16 September 2019

15. Various of Jubilee Vape and Smoke in New York CIty

16. Various of vaping solution and vaporizers on shelf of store

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"This is an announcement that almost no one is going to be entirely happy with it. I think probably the most disappointed will be the health groups, anti-tobacco groups. They wanted Trump to ban all flavors. They think the flavors are what attracts kids to e-cigarettes and vaping. So leaving some of these flavors on the market in any form, they're going to, they're going to view as a failing of the Trump administration."

ARCHIVE: New York - 16 September 2019

18. Various vaporizers on the shelf at NYC Smoke Shop

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"Today's announcement will allow Trump to say that he took action on teen vaping, and that's probably a political win. I think he's going to continue to be pressured by the vaping industry. They have a deadline coming up next year for all of their products to be reviewed by the FDA. They want that pushed back or eliminated entirely. So you're going to continue to see lobbying and pressure from the vaping industry in Washington."

ARCHIVE: Marietta, Georgia - 5 May 2016

20. Various of people smoking e-cigarette

U.S. health officials will ban most flavored e-cigarettes popular with underage teenagers, but with major exceptions that benefit vaping manufacturers, retailers and adults who use the nicotine-emitting devices.

The Trump administration announced Thursday that it will prohibit fruit, candy, mint and dessert flavors from small, cartridge-based e-cigarettes that are popular with high school students.

But menthol and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes will be allowed to remain on the market.

The flavor ban will also entirely exempt large, tank-based vaping devices, which are primarily sold in vape shops that cater to adult smokers.

Associated Press health reporter Matthew Perrone explains that together, the two exemptions represent a significant retreat from President Donald Trump's original plan announced four months ago.

"This is a big step back from what Trump said he was going to do in September when he said that they going to ban all flavors in all types of products," said Perrone.

"There are a number of carve outs here that seem to be favorable to industry who have been lobbying him pretty aggressively in recent months, not to ban all these flavors."

The new policy will preserve a significant portion of the multibillion-dollar vaping market.

And the changes are likely to please both the largest e-cigarette manufacturer, Juul Labs, and thousands of vape shop owners who sell the tank-based systems, which allow users to mix customized flavors.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that typically heat a flavored nicotine solution into an inhalable aerosol.

They have been pitched to adults as a less-harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes, but there is limited data on their ability to help smokers quit.

The Food and Drug Administration has struggled for years to find the appropriate approach to regulating vaping. Under current law, all e-cigarettes are supposed to undergo an FDA review beginning in May. Only those that can demonstrate a benefit for U.S. public health will be permitted to stay on the market.

The flavor ban applies to e-cigarettes that use pre-filled nicotine cartridges mainly sold at gas stations and convenience stores.

Juul is the biggest player in that market, but it previously pulled all of its flavors except menthol and tobacco after coming under intense political scrutiny. Many smaller manufacturers continue to sell sweet, fruity flavors like “grape slushie,” “strawberry cotton candy” and “sea salt blueberry."

The flavor restrictions won't affect the larger specialty devices sold at vape shops, which typically don't admit customers under 21.

These tank-based systems allow users to fill the device with the flavor of their choice. Sales of these devices represent an estimated 40% of the U.S. vaping business, with sales across some 15,000 to 19,000 shops.

"Today's announcement taking a number of these flavors off the market, A number of products is actually a pretty huge step from what came before," said Perrone.

"E-cigarettes and vaping have been pretty much unregulated in the US for many years, and FDA is still trying to figure out how exactly they're going to regulate this space.

In the latest government survey, more than 1 in 4 high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the previous month, despite federal law banning sales to those under 18. Late last month Trump signed a law raising the minimum age to purchase all tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 nationwide.

ARCHIVE: New York - 18 September 2019

1. Various of people vaping

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"The Trump administration is banning most flavors in small cartridge based e-cigarettes that are popular with teens, but they're keeping flavors available for products that a lot of adults use and that are sold in vape shops."

ARCHIVE: New York - 18 September 2019

3. Various of products on a table

ARCHIVE: Biddeford, Maine - 3 September 2019

4. STILL of electronic cigarette pods displayed for sale in shop

ARCHIVE: San Francisco - 17 June 2019

5. STILL of cashier displaying a packet of tobacco-flavored Juul pods

ARCHIVE: New York - 16 September 2019

6. Sign of advertising nicotine content of Juul vaping products

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"This is a big step back from what Trump said he was going to do in September when he said that they going to ban all flavors in all types of products. There are a number of carve outs here that seem to be favorable to industry who have been lobbying him pretty aggressively in recent months, not to ban all these flavors."

ARCHIVE: New York - 18 September 2019

8. Various of couple vaping

9. Various of people vaping

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"When Trump first announced that he was planning to ban nearly all flavors, there was a lot more pressure on the federal government at the time. There was an outbreak of lung illnesses tied to vaping. We now know that that problem was tied to illegal marijuana based vaping products. So there's a little less pressure on the federal government now that that's been determined."

ARCHIVE: Washington DC - 22 November 2019

11. President Donald Trump in listening session at the White House on vaping

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"This is a very big subject and it's a very complex subject. Probably a little bit less compless than some people think. But I'm here to listen and I have very divergent views."

13. Cutaway of listening session

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"E-cigarettes and vaping have been pretty much unregulated in the US for many years, and FDA is still trying to figure out how exactly they're going to regulate this space. So today's announcement taking a number of these flavors off the market, a number of products is actually a pretty huge step from what came before."

ARCHIVE: New York - 16 September 2019

15. Various of Jubilee Vape and Smoke in New York CIty

16. Various of vaping solution and vaporizers on shelf of store

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"This is an announcement that almost no one is going to be entirely happy with it. I think probably the most disappointed will be the health groups, anti-tobacco groups. They wanted Trump to ban all flavors. They think the flavors are what attracts kids to e-cigarettes and vaping. So leaving some of these flavors on the market in any form, they're going to, they're going to view as a failing of the Trump administration."

ARCHIVE: New York - 16 September 2019

18. Various vaporizers on the shelf at NYC Smoke Shop

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"Today's announcement will allow Trump to say that he took action on teen vaping, and that's probably a political win. I think he's going to continue to be pressured by the vaping industry. They have a deadline coming up next year for all of their products to be reviewed by the FDA. They want that pushed back or eliminated entirely. So you're going to continue to see lobbying and pressure from the vaping industry in Washington."

ARCHIVE: Marietta, Georgia - 5 May 2016

20. Various of people smoking e-cigarette

President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump says are stifling economic growth.

Trump revealed his plans during a speech at an automotive testing center near Detroit.

The EPA under Obama had promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleet-wide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

Ypsilanti, Michigan – March 15, 2017

1. President Donald Trump arrives on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"What the president announced today was he's going to review some fuel economy standards that were put in place by the Obama administration's Environmental Protection Agency. He's going to review those and possibly weaken them so they make it easier for automakers to comply."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"I'm sure you've all heard the big news that we're going to work on the CAFE standards, so you can make cars in America again. We're going to help the companies, and they're going to help you."

4. Various of Trump on stage and the "Buy American – Hire American" sign behind him

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"There are many, many environmental groups that would disagree that it's going to create any more jobs. There have been a lot of jobs created in meeting the standards over the years, but, if the automakers can comply easier and they can make more trucks and SUVs, they make more money. And that more than likely means more jobs as well."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"We are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We're going to be fair. We're going to be fair."

7. Various of vehicles at the event site

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"What this does is set up a confrontation with California, or a potential confrontation. California has different clean-air standards, and if the Trump administration relaxes what Obama had put in place right before he left office, California would want still the standard under the Obama administration _ the 36 mile-per-gallon standard. If that happens, the Trump administration might try to take away California's power to set its own emissions standards. And that could set off a big court fight. But that's probably a year, year-and-a-half down the road."

9. Trump waves to the crowd after his speech

President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump says are stifling economic growth.

Trump revealed his plans during a speech at an automotive testing center near Detroit.

The EPA under Obama had promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleet-wide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

Ypsilanti, Michigan – March 15, 2017

1. President Donald Trump arrives on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"What the president announced today was he's going to review some fuel economy standards that were put in place by the Obama administration's Environmental Protection Agency. He's going to review those and possibly weaken them so they make it easier for automakers to comply."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"I'm sure you've all heard the big news that we're going to work on the CAFE standards, so you can make cars in America again. We're going to help the companies, and they're going to help you."

4. Various of Trump on stage and the "Buy American – Hire American" sign behind him

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"There are many, many environmental groups that would disagree that it's going to create any more jobs. There have been a lot of jobs created in meeting the standards over the years, but, if the automakers can comply easier and they can make more trucks and SUVs, they make more money. And that more than likely means more jobs as well."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) President Donald Trump:

"We are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We're going to be fair. We're going to be fair."

7. Various of vehicles at the event site

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer:

"What this does is set up a confrontation with California, or a potential confrontation. California has different clean-air standards, and if the Trump administration relaxes what Obama had put in place right before he left office, California would want still the standard under the Obama administration _ the 36 mile-per-gallon standard. If that happens, the Trump administration might try to take away California's power to set its own emissions standards. And that could set off a big court fight. But that's probably a year, year-and-a-half down the road."

9. Trump waves to the crowd after his speech

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration is revoking California's authority to set auto mileage standards stricter than those issued by federal regulators, a move critics said would result in less fuel efficient cars that create more planet-warming pollution.

In a tweet, Trump said his action would result in less expensive, safer cars. He also predicted Americans would purchase more new cars, which would result in cleaner air as older models are taken off the roads.

U.S. automakers contend that without year-over-year increases in fuel efficiency that align with global market realities their vehicles could be less competitive, potentially resulting in job losses. However, most of the industry favors increases in standards that are less than the Obama-era requirements, saying their consumers are gravitating to gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks rather than buying more efficient cars.

Top California officials and environmental groups pledged legal action on Wednesday to stop the rollback, potentially tying up the issue for years in federal courts. The U.S. transportation sector is the nation's biggest single source of greenhouse gasses.

It's not clear yet what the Trump administration will propose as its final fuel-efficiency rules, but in the past it has favored freezing Obama-era mileage standards at 2021 levels. Under the Obama administration requirements, the fleet of new vehicles would have to average 30 mpg in real-world driving by 2021, rising to 36 mpg in 2025. Currently the standard is 26 mpg.

Under Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency contends that freezing the fuel economy standards will reduce the average sticker price of new vehicles by about $2,700 by 2025, though that predicted savings is disputed by environmental groups and is more than double the EPA estimates from the prior administration.

Trump traveled to California for GOP fundraising events Tuesday and Wednesday near San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

California's authority to set its own, tougher emissions standards goes back to a waiver issued by Congress during passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970. In 2007, when Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor, President George W. Bush's administration denied California's bid to place first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas limits on cars and trucks. But the state asked the EPA to reconsider its decision, and in 2009 — when Democratic President Barack Obama took office — the feds granted California's request.

California has 35 million registered vehicles, the most of any state. A dozen other states and the District of Columbia also follow California's fuel economy standards.

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

1. Cars driving past 76 gas station

2. Sign with gas prices

3. Gas nozzle going into car gas tank

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"The administration started indicating that they would be interested in revoking California's waiver and freezing fuel efficiency standards at 2021 levels since they took power."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

5. Vehicles driving on Interstate 880

6. View of freeway traffic from inside vehicle

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"Our initial reaction is not necessarily one of surprise but certainly one of disappointment. We knew this was coming. It has been been worked on for about three years but ultimately we are certainly opposed to revoking California's waiver and also the freezing emission standards or CAFE standards at 2021. So our hope certainly is that we're going to continue working on this and opposing it in any way we can."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

8. Vehicles driving on Interstate 880

9. View of freeway traffic from inside vehicle

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"The Bush administration threatened to not give California a waiver that got tied up in lawsuits and eventually that got drug out in court until the Obama administration came into power in which he reached an agreement with California. The unique thing about this situation though is that Trump is going in and actively undoing something that was already given to California. So California's waiver was approved in 2016. This is reopening what's called the midterm review and going back and saying that they're taking away the waiver."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

10. Cars driving past Valero gas station

11. Station sign with gas prices

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"California has long been a climate leader. And if we're going to stick to our greenhouse gas emission requirements, not goals but just requirements, these emission standards are vitally important."

ARCHIVE

Los Angeles - 3 April 2018

13. Various of freeway traffic

US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration is revoking California's authority to set auto mileage standards stricter than those issued by federal regulators, a move critics said would result in less fuel efficient cars that create more planet-warming pollution.

In a tweet, Trump said his action would result in less expensive, safer cars. He also predicted Americans would purchase more new cars, which would result in cleaner air as older models are taken off the roads.

U.S. automakers contend that without year-over-year increases in fuel efficiency that align with global market realities their vehicles could be less competitive, potentially resulting in job losses. However, most of the industry favors increases in standards that are less than the Obama-era requirements, saying their consumers are gravitating to gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks rather than buying more efficient cars.

Top California officials and environmental groups pledged legal action on Wednesday to stop the rollback, potentially tying up the issue for years in federal courts. The U.S. transportation sector is the nation's biggest single source of greenhouse gasses.

It's not clear yet what the Trump administration will propose as its final fuel-efficiency rules, but in the past it has favored freezing Obama-era mileage standards at 2021 levels. Under the Obama administration requirements, the fleet of new vehicles would have to average 30 mpg in real-world driving by 2021, rising to 36 mpg in 2025. Currently the standard is 26 mpg.

Under Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency contends that freezing the fuel economy standards will reduce the average sticker price of new vehicles by about $2,700 by 2025, though that predicted savings is disputed by environmental groups and is more than double the EPA estimates from the prior administration.

Trump traveled to California for GOP fundraising events Tuesday and Wednesday near San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

California's authority to set its own, tougher emissions standards goes back to a waiver issued by Congress during passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970. In 2007, when Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor, President George W. Bush's administration denied California's bid to place first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas limits on cars and trucks. But the state asked the EPA to reconsider its decision, and in 2009 — when Democratic President Barack Obama took office — the feds granted California's request.

California has 35 million registered vehicles, the most of any state. A dozen other states and the District of Columbia also follow California's fuel economy standards.

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

1. Cars driving past 76 gas station

2. Sign with gas prices

3. Gas nozzle going into car gas tank

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"The administration started indicating that they would be interested in revoking California's waiver and freezing fuel efficiency standards at 2021 levels since they took power."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

5. Vehicles driving on Interstate 880

6. View of freeway traffic from inside vehicle

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"Our initial reaction is not necessarily one of surprise but certainly one of disappointment. We knew this was coming. It has been been worked on for about three years but ultimately we are certainly opposed to revoking California's waiver and also the freezing emission standards or CAFE standards at 2021. So our hope certainly is that we're going to continue working on this and opposing it in any way we can."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

8. Vehicles driving on Interstate 880

9. View of freeway traffic from inside vehicle

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"The Bush administration threatened to not give California a waiver that got tied up in lawsuits and eventually that got drug out in court until the Obama administration came into power in which he reached an agreement with California. The unique thing about this situation though is that Trump is going in and actively undoing something that was already given to California. So California's waiver was approved in 2016. This is reopening what's called the midterm review and going back and saying that they're taking away the waiver."

Oakland, California - 18 September 2019

10. Cars driving past Valero gas station

11. Station sign with gas prices

Los Angeles - 18 September 2019

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Chavez, Coalition for Clean Air, deputy policy director:

"California has long been a climate leader. And if we're going to stick to our greenhouse gas emission requirements, not goals but just requirements, these emission standards are vitally important."

ARCHIVE

Los Angeles - 3 April 2018

13. Various of freeway traffic

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus128830

U.S. health officials will ban most flavored e-cigarettes popular with underage teenagers, but with major exceptions that benefit vaping manufacturers, retailers and adults who use the nicotine-emitting devices.

The Trump administration announced Thursday that it will prohibit fruit, candy, mint and dessert flavors from small, cartridge-based e-cigarettes that are popular with high school students.

But menthol and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes will be allowed to remain on the market.

The flavor ban will also entirely exempt large, tank-based vaping devices, which are primarily sold in vape shops that cater to adult smokers.

Associated Press health reporter Matthew Perrone explains that together, the two exemptions represent a significant retreat from President Donald Trump's original plan announced four months ago.

"This is a big step back from what Trump said he was going to do in September when he said that they going to ban all flavors in all types of products," said Perrone.

"There are a number of carve outs here that seem to be favorable to industry who have been lobbying him pretty aggressively in recent months, not to ban all these flavors."

The new policy will preserve a significant portion of the multibillion-dollar vaping market.

And the changes are likely to please both the largest e-cigarette manufacturer, Juul Labs, and thousands of vape shop owners who sell the tank-based systems, which allow users to mix customized flavors.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that typically heat a flavored nicotine solution into an inhalable aerosol.

They have been pitched to adults as a less-harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes, but there is limited data on their ability to help smokers quit.

The Food and Drug Administration has struggled for years to find the appropriate approach to regulating vaping. Under current law, all e-cigarettes are supposed to undergo an FDA review beginning in May. Only those that can demonstrate a benefit for U.S. public health will be permitted to stay on the market.

The flavor ban applies to e-cigarettes that use pre-filled nicotine cartridges mainly sold at gas stations and convenience stores.

Juul is the biggest player in that market, but it previously pulled all of its flavors except menthol and tobacco after coming under intense political scrutiny. Many smaller manufacturers continue to sell sweet, fruity flavors like “grape slushie,” “strawberry cotton candy” and “sea salt blueberry."

The flavor restrictions won't affect the larger specialty devices sold at vape shops, which typically don't admit customers under 21.

These tank-based systems allow users to fill the device with the flavor of their choice. Sales of these devices represent an estimated 40% of the U.S. vaping business, with sales across some 15,000 to 19,000 shops.

"Today's announcement taking a number of these flavors off the market, A number of products is actually a pretty huge step from what came before," said Perrone.

"E-cigarettes and vaping have been pretty much unregulated in the US for many years, and FDA is still trying to figure out how exactly they're going to regulate this space.

In the latest government survey, more than 1 in 4 high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the previous month, despite federal law banning sales to those under 18. Late last month Trump signed a law raising the minimum age to purchase all tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 nationwide.

New York - 18 September 2019

1. Various of people vaping

2. Various of products on a table

3. Vaping solution on shelf of store

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"The Trump administration is banning most flavors in small cartridge based e-cigarettes that are popular with teens, but they're keeping flavors available for products that a lot of adults use and that are sold in vape shops. This is a big step back from what Trump said he was going to do in September when he said that they going to ban all flavors in all types of products. There are a number of carve outs here that seem to be favorable to industry who have been lobbying him pretty aggressively in recent months, not to ban all these flavors."

Washington DC - 22 November 2019

5. President Donald Trump in listening session at the White House on vaping

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"When Trump first announced that he was planning to ban nearly all flavors, there was a lot more pressure on the federal government at the time. There was an outbreak of lung illnesses tied to vaping. We now know that that problem was tied to illegal marijuana based vaping products. So there's a little less pressure on the federal government now that that's been determined."

ARCHIVE: New York - 18 September 2019

7. Various of couple vaping

8. Various of people vaping

Washington DC - 2 January 2020

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Reporter:

"E-cigarettes and vaping have been pretty much unregulated in the US for many years, and FDA is still trying to figure out how exactly they're going to regulate this space. So today's announcement taking a number of these flavors off the market, a number of products is actually a pretty huge step from what came before."

ARCHIVE: Marietta, Georgia - 5 May 2016

10. Various of people smoking e-cigarette

The Trump administration unveils a national fuel economy standards rule that would revoke California's authority to set its own auto emission standards, authority it has had for decades under a waiver from the federal Clean Air Act.

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended," said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

"No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

Chao's comments came Thursday during a joint press conference with Envirnonmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler in Washington.

"California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states," said Wheeler.

"It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

California has 35 million registered vehicles, giving it outsized influence with the auto industry.

That heft was on display in July, when Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced four automakers, Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen  agreed to follow California's standards, bypassing the Trump administration, which had been working on new rules.

California officials have been negotiating with other automakers to follow suit, but those talks stalled Wednesday when President Donald Trump announced, via Twitter, that he was revoking California's authority to set its own emission standards.

The administration argues that lower-cost vehicles would allow more people to buy new ones that are safer, cutting roadway deaths by 12,700 lives through the 2029 model year.

But The Associated Press reported last year that internal EPA emails show senior career officials privately questioned the administration's calculations, saying the proposed freeze would actually modestly increase highway fatalities, by about 17 deaths annually.

Washington DC - 19 September 2019

1. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao walking up to press conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended. No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

3. Cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"It should be noted that this rule only applies to fuel economy. It will not affect California's ability to refocus its efforts on fighting the worst air pollution in the country and comply with existing regulations."

5. Cutaway

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"With today's one national program rule, the administration is standing up for all Americans, their needs and their right to choose. We will not let political agendas in a single state be forced upon the other 49 and we will always put safety first."

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"Under the Energy Policy Conservation Act or EPCA, DOT sets CAFE standards. EPCA expressly provides that the federal government regulates fuel economy, not the states. Since there is a direct scientific link between a car's greenhouse gas emissions and its fuel economy deal, DOT is determining that EPCA permit preempts state GHG and zero emission vehicle programs. That's one basis on which EPA intends to withdraw the 2013 waiver for California's state GHG and Zev programs."

9. Cutaway

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"There is a direct and tight link between one California cars and their emissions of criteria pollutants, two the local concentrations of those emissions and three the impacts they have on California due to the state's extraordinary perfect storm of features like population, traffic temperature, wind, ocean currents and topography. But for greenhouse gases the tight and direct link isn't there. California cars have no closer link to California climate impacts, than do cars on the road in Japan or anywhere else in the world."

11. Cutaway

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"And California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states in the same way that it's smog impacts are. It makes sense that Congress carved out waiver authority for California to address its unique local problems. It does not make sense to use that authority to try to address national and global issues like greenhouse gas emissions. It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

13. Cutaway of end of press conference

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus123788

The Trump administration unveils a national fuel economy standards rule that would revoke California's authority to set its own auto emission standards, authority it has had for decades under a waiver from the federal Clean Air Act.

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended," said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

"No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

Chao's comments came Thursday during a joint press conference with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler in Washington.

"California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states," said Wheeler.

"It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

California has 35 million registered vehicles, giving it outsized influence with the auto industry.

That heft was on display in July, when Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced four automakers, Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen  agreed to follow California's standards, bypassing the Trump administration, which had been working on new rules.

California officials have been negotiating with other automakers to follow suit, but those talks stalled Wednesday when President Donald Trump announced, via Twitter, that he was revoking California's authority to set its own emission standards.

The administration argues that lower-cost vehicles would allow more people to buy new ones that are safer, cutting roadway deaths by 12,700 lives through the 2029 model year.

But The Associated Press reported last year that internal EPA emails show senior career officials privately questioned the administration's calculations, saying the proposed freeze would actually modestly increase highway fatalities, by about 17 deaths annually.

Washington DC - 19 September 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended. No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"With today's one national program rule, the administration is standing up for all Americans, their needs and their right to choose. We will not let political agendas in a single state be forced upon the other 49 and we will always put safety first."

++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"And California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states in the same way that it's smog impacts are. It makes sense that Congress carved out waiver authority for California to address its unique local problems. It does not make sense to use that authority to try to address national and global issues like greenhouse gas emissions. It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

The Trump administration unveils a national fuel economy standards rule that would revoke California's authority to set its own auto emission standards, authority it has had for decades under a waiver from the federal Clean Air Act.

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended," said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

"No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

Chao's comments came Thursday during a joint press conference with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler in Washington.

"California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states," said Wheeler.

"It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

California has 35 million registered vehicles, giving it outsized influence with the auto industry.

That heft was on display in July, when Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced four automakers, Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen  agreed to follow California's standards, bypassing the Trump administration, which had been working on new rules.

California officials have been negotiating with other automakers to follow suit, but those talks stalled Wednesday when President Donald Trump announced, via Twitter, that he was revoking California's authority to set its own emission standards.

The administration argues that lower-cost vehicles would allow more people to buy new ones that are safer, cutting roadway deaths by 12,700 lives through the 2029 model year.

But The Associated Press reported last year that internal EPA emails show senior career officials privately questioned the administration's calculations, saying the proposed freeze would actually modestly increase highway fatalities, by about 17 deaths annually.

Washington DC - 19 September 2019

1. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao walking up to press conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"The one national program that we are announcing today will ensure that there is one and only one set of national fuel economy standards as Congress mandated and intended. No state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules and no state has the right to impose its policies on everybody else in our whole country. To do otherwise, harms consumers and damages the American economy."

3. Cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"It should be noted that this rule only applies to fuel economy. It will not affect California's ability to refocus its efforts on fighting the worst air pollution in the country and comply with existing regulations."

5. Cutaway

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation:

"With today's one national program rule, the administration is standing up for all Americans, their needs and their right to choose. We will not let political agendas in a single state be forced upon the other 49 and we will always put safety first."

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"Under the Energy Policy Conservation Act or EPCA, DOT sets CAFE standards. EPCA expressly provides that the federal government regulates fuel economy, not the states. Since there is a direct scientific link between a car's greenhouse gas emissions and its fuel economy deal, DOT is determining that EPCA permit preempts state GHG and zero emission vehicle programs. That's one basis on which EPA intends to withdraw the 2013 waiver for California's state GHG and Zev programs."

9. Cutaway

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"There is a direct and tight link between one California cars and their emissions of criteria pollutants, two the local concentrations of those emissions and three the impacts they have on California due to the state's extraordinary perfect storm of features like population, traffic temperature, wind, ocean currents and topography. But for greenhouse gases the tight and direct link isn't there. California cars have no closer link to California climate impacts, than do cars on the road in Japan or anywhere else in the world."

11. Cutaway

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:

"And California's climate impacts are not extraordinarily distinct from those felt in other states in the same way that it's smog impacts are. It makes sense that Congress carved out waiver authority for California to address its unique local problems. It does not make sense to use that authority to try to address national and global issues like greenhouse gas emissions. It's time to put California's waiver back in its box, the box that Congress always intended it to stand, California's unique extraordinary criteria air pollutant issues."

13. Cutaway of end of press conference

President Donald Trump said Wednesday his administration will propose banning thousands of flavors used in e-cigarettes to combat a recent surge in underage vaping.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said vaping has become such a problem that he wants parents to be aware of what's happening.

"We want to have parents understand that we're studying it very carefully. It's again, very new and potentially very bad," Trump said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters that his agency and the Food and Drug Administration will develop guidelines to remove all e-cigarette flavors except tobacco, from the market.

It will take several weeks to develop the proposed flavor restrictions, which will be subject to public input before taking effect.

Trump's comments on vaping, the first of his presidency, come as health authorities investigate hundreds of breathing illnesses reported in people who have used e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.

No single device, ingredient or additive has been identified, though many cases involve marijuana vaping devices.

The proposal announced by Trump officials would only apply to nicotine vaping products, which are regulated by the FDA.

The FDA has had the authority to ban vaping flavors since 2016, but has resisted calls to take that step.

Instead, the agency previously said it wanted to study the role of flavors in vaping products, including whether they help adult smokers quit traditional cigarettes.

But parents, politicians and health advocates have increasingly called for a crackdown on flavors, arguing that they are overwhelmingly to blame for a recent surge in underage vaping by U.S. teens.

A ban on flavors would represent a huge blow to the vaping industry, including companies like Juul, which has grown into a multibillion dollar business by selling mint, fruit and dessert flavored-nicotine products.

Washington, DC - 11 September 2019

1. Wide shot of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We have a problem in our country. It's a new problem, it's a problem nobody really thought about too much a few years ago and it's called vaping, especially vaping as it pertains to innocent children. And they're coming home and they're saying, 'Mom I want to vape.' And the parents don't know too much about it and nobody knows too much about it but they do know it's causing a lot of problems. And we're going to have to do something about it. One of the words and one of the reasons we're meeting today is to let you know that it's out there and we want to have parents understand that we're studying it very carefully. It's again, very new and potentially very bad. There have been deaths and there have been a lot of other problems. People think it's an easy solution to cigarettes but it's turned out that it has its own difficulties."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Not only is it a problem overall but really specifically with respect to children. We're getting some stories that we don't want to hear and we may very well have to do something very, very strong about it."

4. Wide cutaway of Trump in Oval Office

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Alex Azar, Health and Human Services Secretary:

"Currently about 8 million adults use these cigarettes but five million children are using e-cigarettes. This is exceptionally harmful to our children. An entire generation of children risk becoming addicted to nicotine because of the attractiveness, appealability and availability of these vaping products. So with the president's support, the Food and Drug Administration intends to finalize a guidance document that would commence enforcement to require that all flavors other than tobacco flavor would be removed from the market."

6. Wide cutaway

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We want to get to the bottom of a very unusual situation. It's so new and it's become so big so fast and it could be a potential very severe problem. So Commissioner, you know what to do, you know what to do and it's something that frankly should have been looked into a few years ago in a much more advanced way. It wasn't. And we have something that will be very interesting to see what turns up. But you'll be able to report back in the fairly near future because you've done a lot of work on this and we'll see what happens. OK? Thank you very much."

8. Wide shot of Trump in Oval Office

President Donald Trump said Wednesday his administration will propose banning thousands of flavors used in e-cigarettes to combat a recent surge in underage vaping.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said vaping has become such a problem that he wants parents to be aware of what's happening.

"We want to have parents understand that we're studying it very carefully. It's again, very new and potentially very bad," Trump said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters that his agency and the Food and Drug Administration will develop guidelines to remove all e-cigarette flavors except tobacco, from the market.

It will take several weeks to develop the proposed flavor restrictions, which will be subject to public input before taking effect.

Trump's comments on vaping, the first of his presidency, come as health authorities investigate hundreds of breathing illnesses reported in people who have used e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.

No single device, ingredient or additive has been identified, though many cases involve marijuana vaping devices.

The proposal announced by Trump officials would only apply to nicotine vaping products, which are regulated by the FDA.

The FDA has had the authority to ban vaping flavors since 2016, but has resisted calls to take that step.

Instead, the agency previously said it wanted to study the role of flavors in vaping products, including whether they help adult smokers quit traditional cigarettes.

But parents, politicians and health advocates have increasingly called for a crackdown on flavors, arguing that they are overwhelmingly to blame for a recent surge in underage vaping by U.S. teens.

A ban on flavors would represent a huge blow to the vaping industry, including companies like Juul, which has grown into a multibillion dollar business by selling mint, fruit and dessert flavored-nicotine products.

Washington, DC - 11 September 2019

1. Wide shot of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We have a problem in our country. It's a new problem, it's a problem nobody really thought about too much a few years ago and it's called vaping, especially vaping as it pertains to innocent children. And they're coming home and they're saying, 'Mom I want to vape.' And the parents don't know too much about it and nobody knows too much about it but they do know it's causing a lot of problems. And we're going to have to do something about it. One of the words and one of the reasons we're meeting today is to let you know that it's out there and we want to have parents understand that we're studying it very carefully. It's again, very new and potentially very bad. There have been deaths and there have been a lot of other problems. People think it's an easy solution to cigarettes but it's turned out that it has its own difficulties."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Not only is it a problem overall but really specifically with respect to children. We're getting some stories that we don't want to hear and we may very well have to do something very, very strong about it."

4. Wide cutaway of Trump in Oval Office

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Alex Azar, Health and Human Services Secretary:

"Currently about 8 million adults use these cigarettes but five million children are using e-cigarettes. This is exceptionally harmful to our children. An entire generation of children risk becoming addicted to nicotine because of the attractiveness, appealability and availability of these vaping products. So with the president's support, the Food and Drug Administration intends to finalize a guidance document that would commence enforcement to require that all flavors other than tobacco flavor would be removed from the market."

6. Wide cutaway

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We want to get to the bottom of a very unusual situation. It's so new and it's become so big so fast and it could be a potential very severe problem. So Commissioner, you know what to do, you know what to do and it's something that frankly should have been looked into a few years ago in a much more advanced way. It wasn't. And we have something that will be very interesting to see what turns up. But you'll be able to report back in the fairly near future because you've done a lot of work on this and we'll see what happens. OK? Thank you very much."

8. Wide shot of Trump in Oval Office

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus123361

President Donald Trump said Wednesday his administration will propose banning thousands of flavors used in e-cigarettes to combat a recent surge in underage vaping.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said vaping has become such a problem that he wants parents to be aware of what's happening.

"We want to have parents understand that we're studying it very carefully. It's again, very new and potentially very bad," Trump said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters that his agency and the Food and Drug Administration will develop guidelines to remove all e-cigarette flavors except tobacco, from the market.

It will take several weeks to develop the proposed flavor restrictions, which will be subject to public input before taking effect.

Trump's comments on vaping, the first of his presidency, come as health authorities investigate hundreds of breathing illnesses reported in people who have used e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.

No single device, ingredient or additive has been identified, though many cases involve marijuana vaping devices.

The proposal announced by Trump officials would only apply to nicotine vaping products, which are regulated by the FDA.

The FDA has had the authority to ban vaping flavors since 2016, but has resisted calls to take that step.

Instead, the agency previously said it wanted to study the role of flavors in vaping products, including whether they help adult smokers quit traditional cigarettes.

But parents, politicians and health advocates have increasingly called for a crackdown on flavors, arguing that they are overwhelmingly to blame for a recent surge in underage vaping by U.S. teens.

A ban on flavors would represent a huge blow to the vaping industry, including companies like Juul, which has grown into a multibillion dollar business by selling mint, fruit and dessert flavored-nicotine products.

Washington, DC - 11 September 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We have a problem in our country. It's a new problem, it's a problem nobody really thought about too much a few years ago and it's called vaping, especially vaping as it pertains to innocent children. And they're coming home and they're saying, 'Mom I want to vape.' And the parents don't know too much about it and nobody knows too much about it but they do know it's causing a lot of problems. And we're going to have to do something about it. One of the words and one of the reasons we're meeting today is to let you know that it's out there and we want to have parents understand that we're studying it very carefully. It's again, very new and potentially very bad. There have been deaths and there have been a lot of other problems. People think it's an easy solution to cigarettes but it's turned out that it has its own difficulties."

Marietta, Georgia - 5 May 2016

2. Vaping products for sale

3. Close up of man vaping

Scarsdale, New York - May 21, 2018

4. Close shot ot teen girl vaping

Massapequa, New York - May 23, 2018

5. Various of kids walking inside and outside a high school

Washington, DC - 11 September 2019

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Alex Azar, Health and Human Services Secretary:

"Currently about 8 million adults use these cigarettes but five million children are using e-cigarettes. This is exceptionally harmful to our children. An entire generation of children risk becoming addicted to nicotine because of the attractiveness, appealability and availability of these vaping products. So with the president's support, the Food and Drug Administration intends to finalize a guidance document that would commence enforcement to require that all flavors other than tobacco flavor would be removed from the market."

++WHITE FLASH BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We want to get to the bottom of a very unusual situation. It's so new and it's become so big so fast and it could be a potential very severe problem. So Commissioner, you know what to do, you know what to do and it's something that frankly should have been looked into a few years ago in a much more advanced way. It wasn't. And we have something that will be very interesting to see what turns up. But you'll be able to report back in the fairly near future because you've done a lot of work on this and we'll see what happens. OK? Thank you very much."

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump says are stifling economic growth.

Trump was set to reveal his plans during a speech at an automotive testing center near Detroit, but he previewed the announcement during a round-table meeting at the American Center for Mobility with auto company executives and workers, just before the speech.

The EPA under Obama had promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleetwide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

As a practical matter, Trump's announcement will target the Obama administration's January decision to lock in strict gas mileage requirements for cars and light trucks, ending a review process before the Democrat left office.

Back in 2012, the Obama administration set fuel-economy regulations for model years 2017-2025 and agreed to complete a midterm evaluation by 2018. But seven days before Obama left office, the EPA decided to keep the stringent requirements it had set in place for model years 2022 to 2025. The industry balked at the decision, insisting it was rushed through to beat the change in administrations.

Trump said he's putting that midterm review back on track, so officials can spend another year studying the issue before setting new standards in 2018.

Trump campaigned on eliminating "job killing" regulations, and the administration is expected to take additional steps in the coming days to roll back environmental regulations.

POOL

Ypsilanti - 15 March 2017

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

1. Wide, President Donald Trump entering hall

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I am sure you have all heard the big news that we are going to work on the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, so you can make cars in America again. We are going to help the companies and they are going to help you. There is no more beautiful sight than an American made car, no more beautiful sight. I love this state. I love the people of this state and you did me a big favor and that victory hasn't been won by a Republican in a long time. Long time. And you are going to be very happy, believe me. Very, very happy. During the campaign I came to Michigan again and again and I made this promise, that I am going to fight for your jobs and fight very very hard."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"We want to be the car capital of the world again. We will be and it won't be long, believe me."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Already we are seeing jobs coming back. Since my election Ford has announced 700 new jobs coming back to their plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Fiat Chrysler has announced that they will create 2,000 new jobs in Michigan and Ohio. And just today, breaking news, General Motors announced that they are adding, or keeping, 900 jobs right here in Michigan and that is going to be over the next twelve months and that is just the beginning, folks. In fact, I told them that's peanuts, peanuts."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Today I am announcing that we are going to cancel that executive action, we are going to restore the originally scheduled midterm review and we are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We are going to be fair, going to be fair. This is an issue of deep importance to me. For decades I have raised the alarm over unfair foreign trade practices that have robbed communities of their wealth and robbed our people of their ability to provide for their families. They've stolen our jobs, they've stolen our companies and our politicians sat back and watched. Hopeless ... not anymore"

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump says are stifling economic growth.

Trump was set to reveal his plans during a speech at an automotive testing center near Detroit, but he previewed the announcement during a round-table meeting at the American Center for Mobility with auto company executives and workers, just before the speech.

The EPA under Obama had promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleetwide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

As a practical matter, Trump's announcement will target the Obama administration's January decision to lock in strict gas mileage requirements for cars and light trucks, ending a review process before the Democrat left office.

Back in 2012, the Obama administration set fuel-economy regulations for model years 2017-2025 and agreed to complete a midterm evaluation by 2018. But seven days before Obama left office, the EPA decided to keep the stringent requirements it had set in place for model years 2022 to 2025. The industry balked at the decision, insisting it was rushed through to beat the change in administrations.

Trump said he's putting that midterm review back on track, so officials can spend another year studying the issue before setting new standards in 2018.

Trump campaigned on eliminating "job killing" regulations, and the administration is expected to take additional steps in the coming days to roll back environmental regulations.

POOL

Ypsilanti - 15 March 2017

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

1. Wide, President Donald Trump entering hall

2. Mid, Trump at podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I am sure you have all heard the big news that we are going to work on the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, so you can make cars in America again. We are going to help the companies and they are going to help you. There is no more beautiful sight than an American made car, no more beautiful sight. I love this state. I love the people of this state and you did me a big favor and that victory hasn't been won by a Republican in a long time. Long time. And you are going to be very happy, believe me. Very, very happy. During the campaign I came to Michigan again and again and I made this promise, that I am going to fight for your jobs and fight very very hard."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"We want to be the car capitol of the world again. We will be and it won't be long, believe me."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Already we are seeing jobs coming back. Since my election Ford has announced 700 new jobs coming back to their plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Fiat Chrysler has announced that they will create 2,000 new jobs in Michigan and Ohio. And just today, breaking news, General Motors announced that they are adding, or keeping, 900 jobs right here in Michigan and that is going to be over the next twelve months and that is just the beginning, folks. In fact, I told them that's peanuts, peanuts."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Today I am announcing that we are going to cancel that executive action, we are going to restore the originally scheduled midterm review and we are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We are going to be fair, going to be fair. This is an issue of deep importance to me. For decades I have raised the alarm over unfair foreign trade practices that have robbed communities of their wealth and robbed our people of their ability to provide for their families. They've stolen our jobs, they've stolen our companies and our politicians sat back and watched. Hopeless ... not anymore"

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I am asking all the companies here today to join us in this new industrial revolution. Let us put American workers, American families and American dreams first once again. May God bless the American worker. May God bless the motor city and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you everybody."

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday spoke about his plans to boost the nations car manufacturers in an address at the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

The centre was used to produce B-24 bombers during World War II but is being converted into an automotive testing and product development centre.

Ahead of his visit, Trump confirmed plans to re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental regulations that he said are stifling economic growth.

Under Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleetwide average of 36 miles per gallon (15.3 kilometres per litre) in real-world driving by 2025.

Trump's announcement, while having no immediate effect, is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

As a practical matter, Trump's announcement will target the Obama administration's January decision to lock in strict gas mileage requirements for cars and light trucks, ending a review process before the Democrat left office.

++NO SETUPS OR CUTAWAYS AVAILABLE, SOUNDBITE SEPARATED BY BLACK++

POOL

Ypsilanti - 15 March 2017

1. President Donald Trump entering hall

2. Trump at podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"I am sure you have all heard the big news that we are going to work on the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, so you can make cars in America again. We are going to help the companies and they are going to help you. There is no more beautiful sight than an American-made car, no more beautiful sight. I love this state. I love the people of this state and you did me a big favour and that victory hasn't been won by a Republican in a long time. Long time. And you are going to be very happy, believe me. Very, very happy. During the campaign, I came to Michigan again and again and I made this promise, that I am going to fight for your jobs and fight very, very hard."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We want to be the car capital of the world again. We will be and it won't be long, believe me."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Already we are seeing jobs coming back. Since my election, Ford has announced 700 new jobs coming back to their plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Fiat Chrysler has announced that they will create 2,000 new jobs in Michigan and Ohio. And just today, breaking news, General Motors announced that they are adding, or keeping, 900 jobs right here in Michigan and that is going to be over the next 12 months and that is just the beginning, folks. In fact, I told them that's peanuts, peanuts."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Today I am announcing that we are going to cancel that executive action, we are going to restore the originally scheduled midterm review and we are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories. We are going to be fair, going to be fair. This is an issue of deep importance to me. For decades, I have raised the alarm over unfair foreign trade practices that have robbed communities of their wealth and robbed our people of their ability to provide for their families. They've stolen our jobs, they've stolen our companies and our politicians sat back and watched. Hopeless ... not anymore."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"I am asking all the companies here today to join us in this new industrial revolution. Let us put American workers, American families and American dreams first once again. May God bless the American worker. May God bless the Motor City and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you everybody."

Automotive executives Tuesday praised President Donald Trump, after holding a morning meeting with him in the White House, for his focus on growing jobs and investment in their industry.

Speaking to reporters after, Ford Motor Co. chief executive Mark Fields also welcomed the president's decision to withdraw from the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) trade agreement.

"We've been very vocal, both as an industry and as a company, and we've repeatedly said that the mother of all trade barriers is currency manipulation and TPP failed in meaningfully dealing with that and we appreciate the president's courage to walk away from a bad trade deal, " Fields said.

General Motors chief executive Mary Barra said there was "a huge opportunity working together as an industry with government, " to improve job creation, safety and the environment.

Trump told his guests Tuesday at the White House that he's looking to ease regulations to help auto companies and any other businesses wishing to do business in the U.S..

Washington, D.C. - 24 January 2017

1. Pan, auto CEOs leaving White House West Wing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Fields, Ford Motor Co. chief executive:

"Well, we just had a great conversation with the president and he is very focused on policies that will grow investment and jobs here in America and American industry and of course in the automotive industry, which is what we talked about this morning. As an industry, as an automotive industry, we employ many people across America. Good paying jobs from the people that work in our factories to manufacturers that support our plants with parts, to our wonderful dealers, who are literally in every community across America who help sell and service our vehicles and we are very encouraged by the president and the economic policies that he is forwarding. And I would just call out yesterday, the president's decision to withdraw from the TPP. We've been very vocal, both as an industry and as a company, and we've repeatedly said that the mother of all trade barriers is currency manipulation and TPP failed in meaningfully dealing with that and we appreciate the president's courage to walk away from a bad trade deal. So, I think as an industry, we are excited about working together with the president and his administration on tax policies, on regulation and on trade to really create a renaissance in American manufacturing. So, maybe Mary you want to say a few words?"

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mary Barra, General Motors chief executive:

"Just to say that, I think that ... but I think there is a huge. There is a huge opportunity working together as an industry with government that we can do and improve the environment, improve safety and improve the jobs creation and the competitiveness of manufacturing and we are looking forward to all the elements that Mark talked about in order to do that."

4. Pan, Barra, Fields and Fiat Chrysler chairman Sergio Marchionne walking away from reporters

Automotive executives Tuesday praised President Donald Trump, after holding a morning meeting with him in the White House, for his focus on growing jobs and investment in their industry.

Speaking to reporters after, Ford Motor Co. chief executive Mark Fields also welcomed the president's decision to withdraw from the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) trade agreement.

General Motors chief executive Mary Barra said there was "a huge opportunity working together as an industry with government, " to improve job creation, safety and the environment.

Trump told his guests Tuesday at the White House that he's looking to ease regulations to help auto companies and any other businesses wishing to do business in the US.

Washington, D.C. - 24 January 2017

1. Pan, auto CEOs leaving White House West Wing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Fields, Ford Motor Co. chief executive:

"Well, we just had a great conversation with the president and he is very focused on policies that will grow investment and jobs here in America and American industry and of course in the automotive industry, which is what we talked about this morning. As an industry, as an automotive industry, we employ many people across America. Good paying jobs from the people that work in our factories to manufacturers that support our plants with parts, to our wonderful dealers, who are literally in every community across America who help sell and service our vehicles and we are very encouraged by the president and the economic policies that he is forwarding. And I would just call out yesterday, the president's decision to withdraw from the TPP. We've been very vocal, both as an industry and as a company, and we've repeatedly said that the mother of all trade barriers is currency manipulation and TPP failed in meaningfully dealing with that and we appreciate the president's courage to walk away from a bad trade deal. So, I think as an industry, we are excited about working together with the president and his administration on tax policies, on regulation and on trade to really create a renaissance in American manufacturing. So, maybe Mary you want to say a few words?"

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mary Barra, General Motors chief executive:

"Just to say that, I think that ... but I think there is a huge. There is a huge opportunity working together as an industry with government that we can do and improve the environment, improve safety and improve the jobs creation and the competitiveness of manufacturing and we are looking forward to all the elements that Mark talked about to be able to do that."

4. Pan, Barra, Fields and Fiat Chrysler chairman Sergio Marchionne walking away from reporters

Automotive executives Tuesday praised President Donald Trump, after holding a morning meeting with him in the White House, for his focus on growing jobs and investment in their industry.

Speaking to reporters after, Ford Motor Co. chief executive Mark Fields also welcomed the president's decision to withdraw from the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) trade agreement.

"We've been very vocal, both as an industry and as a company, and we've repeatedly said that the mother of all trade barriers is currency manipulation and TPP failed in meaningfully dealing with that and we appreciate the president's courage to walk away from a bad trade deal, " Fields said.

General Motors chief executive Mary Barra said there was "a huge opportunity working together as an industry with government, " to improve job creation, safety and the environment.

Trump told his guests Tuesday at the White House that he's looking to ease regulations to help auto companies and any other businesses wishing to do business in the U.S..

Washington, D.C. - 24 January 2017

1. Pan, auto CEOs leaving White House West Wing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Fields, Ford Motor Co. chief executive:

"Well, we just had a great conversation with the president and he is very focused on policies that will grow investment and jobs here in America and American industry and of course in the automotive industry, which is what we talked about this morning. As an industry, as an automotive industry, we employ many people across America. Good paying jobs from the people that work in our factories to manufacturers that support our plants with parts, to our wonderful dealers, who are literally in every community across America who help sell and service our vehicles and we are very encouraged by the president and the economic policies that he is forwarding. And I would just call out yesterday, the president's decision to withdraw from the TPP. We've been very vocal, both as an industry and as a company, and we've repeatedly said that the mother of all trade barriers is currency manipulation and TPP failed in meaningfully dealing with that and we appreciate the president's courage to walk away from a bad trade deal. So, I think as an industry, we are excited about working together with the president and his administration on tax policies, on regulation and on trade to really create a renaissance in American manufacturing. So, maybe Mary you want to say a few words?"

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mary Barra, General Motors chief executive:

"Just to say that, I think that ... but I think there is a huge. There is a huge opportunity working together as an industry with government that we can do and improve the environment, improve safety and improve the jobs creation and the competitiveness of manufacturing and we are looking forward to all the elements that Mark talked about in order to do that."

4. Pan, Barra, Fields and Fiat Chrysler chairman Sergio Marchionne walking away from reporters

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus133318

The Trump administration is rolling back tough Obama-era mileage standards and gutting one of the United States' biggest efforts to slow climate change.

The administration released its relaxed mileage rules Tuesday.

The Obama administration mandated 5% annual increases in fuel economy, the Trump administration's proposal slows that to  a 1.5% annual increase, backing off from its initial proposal simply to stop mandating increases in fuel efficiency after 2020.

Tailpipe exhaust is a major contributor to climate changing emissions.

The Trump administration argues relaxing mileage standards will save automakers the cost of new emissions technology and make vehicles cheaper for Americans to buy. But opponents say Americans will spend far more on fuel than they save on purchase costs.

"While these are tougher standards than the proposal, they are still more realistic and achievable than the 2012 standards, which had required an approximate five percent increase in stringency per year and which the majority of car companies were already not meeting,"  Andrew Wheeler, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Tuesday on a teleconference call making the announcement.

Opponents contend the change — gutting his predecessor's legacy effort against climate-changing fossil fuel emissions — appears driven by Trump's push to undo regulatory initiatives of former President Barack Obama and say even the administration has had difficulty pointing to the kind of specific, demonstrable benefits to drivers, public health and safety or the economy that normally accompany standards changes.

The standards have split the auto industry with Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen siding with California and agreeing to higher standards. Most other automakers contend the Obama-era standards were enacted hastily and will be impossible to meet because consumers have shifted dramatically away from efficient cars to SUVs and trucks.

California and about a dozen other states say they will continue resisting the Trump standards in court.

The acting head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, James Owens, told reporters that there was a statutory deadline to reveal the emissions standards.

"The public health crisis that the nation is facing is the administration's number one priority," he said. "We are at war with the virus and the administration is focused on that.  We are rolling this rule out today because we have a statutory deadline, we have to roll it out today by law. But we are certainly cognizant of that."

Juno Beach, Florida - 30 March 2020

1. Close view of hands putting fuel pump nozzle into car gas tank

Washington - 31 March 2020

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation: ++AUDIO ONLY, OVER GRAPHIC OF CHAO++

"The safe vehicles rule sets the next generation of fuel economy standards for our nation's new vehicles. These standards are reasonable, realistic and achievable and reflect the fact that times and technology have changed since the previous rule in 2012."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator:  ++AUDIO ONLY, OVER GRAPHIC OF WHEELER++

"The final rule will increase the stringency of CAFE CO2 emission standards by 1.5% each year through model year 2026. This is more stringent than the 2018 proposal, which would have held the standards steady at the 2020 levels set in 2012. While these are tougher standards than the proposal, they are still more realistic and achievable than the 2012 standards, which had required an approximate five percent increase in stringency per year and which the majority of car companies were already not meeting."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) James Owens, Acting Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): ++AUDIO ONLY, OVER GRAPHIC OF NHTSA LOGO, TRAFFIC++

"The public health crisis that the nation is facing is the administration's number one priority.  We are at war with the virus and the administration is focused on that. We are rolling this rule out today because we have a statutory deadline, we have to roll it out today by law. But we are certainly cognizant of that. But our rule is looking forward through the next decade and we are focused on the best available evidence before us as we do this modeling and this analysis and make these important and critical policy choices."

Baytown, Texas - 30 March 2020

5. Wide view of highway as truck passes toward gas station

6. Various of sign showing fuel prices