Following multiple extensions of an exclusion that protected e-bikes, a 25% tariff will begin to be levied on Chinese-made e-bikes.
Importers of Chinese-made e-bikes will be levied an additional 25 percent tariff on them beginning June 14, 2024. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office announced that exclusions to the Section 301 tariffs will expire, followed by a transition period.
The tariff exclusions had received several extensions. In addition to e-bikes, the exclusions had covered juvenile bikes, carbon fiber frames and hydration packs.
The exclusions end at midnight on June 14. Other exclusions will be extended however. Chinese-made bicycle trailers and some bicycle helmets will be renewed, extending their exclusions to June 1, 2025. An index of the full set of exclusions can be found on the USTR’s site.
PeopleforBikes has said that it continues to advocate for tariff relief and further clarity on USTR rulings. With new tariffs coming for lithium-ion batteries, e-bikes could be subject to two tariffs in the near future, not one.
We can’t help but wonder if product safety can or will affect these tariffs. With “potted” e-bike batteries starting to hit the market, it seems reasonable that a new exception could be carved out for products that are UL certified, but there is no news on what new efforts might be mounted to avoid trade tariffs on e-bikes.
The bottom line here is simple: For people currently shopping for an e-bike, you’ve got roughly two weeks until many e-bikes go up in price. And for many of us, a 25 percent tariff has the power to render many e-bikes unaffordable.
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