Vaping Pioneer Juul Asks Agency to Block Pod-Making Competitors

As U.S. regulators take aim at vaping, one of the biggest makers of electronic cigarettes says it can help keep the devices away from kids if a trade agency protects it from foreign competitors.

Juul Labs Inc. is asking the U.S. International Trade Commission to block imports of nicotine pods made by competitors for Juul devices, saying its patents are being infringed. The San Francisco-based company says it is pursuing the case, which begins Tuesday in Washington, in part to keep flavored e-cigarettes out of the hands of kids.

In opening arguments Sept. 24, though, Juul focused on the company’s ...