WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — It's unclear if the Biden administration's proposed steep increases in tariffs on Chinese EVs will affect the bike industry.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday said his administration would impose new increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, batteries, and battery materials, in addition to solar panels, steel and aluminum products and other items. The administration said the EV tariff would increase to 100% from its current 25%. Most other products he mentioned would receive a 25% tariff.
It's unclear whether the increased tariffs would apply to e-bike batteries, said Matt Moore, PeopleForBikes' policy counsel, in a forthcoming statement from the organization BRAIN reviewed. Moore said it's also unclear whether some key bike products, including e-bikes and juvenile bikes, will continue to be excluded from the 25% Section 301 tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Those exclusions are set to expire May 31.
The U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai released a statement following Biden's remarks Tuesday that didn't clarify either issue. Tai did say the USTR will announce a system for industry members and others to submit public comments on the changes. PeopleForBikes is urging industry members to contact their congressional delegation to ask for "clarity and tariff relief for children's bicycles, electric bicycles, bike trailers, and other bicycle products," and has set up a webpage to make it easier for industry members to contact their representatives in Washington.
"We call upon Congress and the Biden administration to clarify what is actually going to happen with respect to the current exclusions, which are of great importance to our industry and American consumers. These exclusions keep kids' bikes, trailers, electric bicycles, and related bicycle products affordable for families looking to ride and grow together," Moore said.