Chinese electric bikes: Europe raises tariffs

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In an effort to protect their companies from Chinese manufacturers who are massively exporting their electric bicycles to Europe, Brussels took a series of anti-dumping measures on Thursday, July 19.

Chinese e-bike makers have been on the radar of European authorities for months as barriers to the Old Continent rise. This Thursday, July 19, the official magazine of the European Union recorded the introduction of new customs duties, the amount of which varies from 21.8 to 83.6%, depending on the manufacturer.

These new taxes are temporarily in effect until the end of the investigation. This will last until January 2019, when the final fees are set, usually for a period of five years.

The imposition of these customs duties follows the discovery of evidence that Chinese dumping is punishing European producers. The result of a lengthy investigation that began last November with a complaint filed by the European Bicycle Manufacturers Federation (EBMA). Brussels already issued its first warning in May, requiring Chinese manufacturers to register their products with customs so that they could potentially apply taxes retroactively.

For Brussels, the goal is to protect European industry from the intrusion of Chinese suppliers. Chinese e-bike exports to the EU tripled between 2014 and 2017 and now account for 35% of the market with an 11% drop in selling price.

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"Today's decision should send a clear signal to Chinese e-bike makers and allow European makers to regain lost market share." Moreno Fioravanti, EBMA General Secretary.

However, the measures taken by Europe are not unanimous. For some players, the difference between a European manufacturer and an importer is small.. « Most of the e-bike components come from China and are only assembled by European “manufacturers”. »Condemns the light electric vehicle association.

A decision that will have implications for users, these new taxes could lead to higher prices for the models ...