Reuters reveals how China’s tobacco monopoly means big risks for e-cigarette startups

Reuters revealed how a rush of e-cigarette makers are vying for sales in China, the world’s biggest tobacco market, but they are wary of China Tobacco, which is both the government-owned cigarette company and the national tobacco regulator. The state monopoly has not clearly signaled how it will regulate e-cigarettes – or whether it will sell them. If it does, it has the power to regulate its competitors out of the business.