Global Bicycle Market Braces for New “Expansionist” US Tariffs

The global bicycle market, from Chinese manufacturers to high-performance European brands, is bracing for a new wave of “expansionist” US tariffs. Guardian Bikes of Indiana has asked the Commerce Department to add bicycles to the “steel derivatives” list, part of a 700-item request from US industry.
In an 11-page plea, Guardian Bikes claimed the US bike industry “was lost” due to 11 million imports, blaming China. However, the requested tariff would be global, hitting European brands like Brompton (UK), Pinarello (Italy), and Bianchi (Italy).
This is just one of 700 new requests, which also include baking pans, mattress springs, and industrial machines. The requests were fueled by a near-100% success rate in August, when 407 items were added to the list.
This is causing alarm among US allies. The UK and EU, which have separate trade deals, now face an additional tariff on their steel-containing goods, on top of their baseline rates. They argue this “makes a mockery” of their agreements.
A decision on the 700 items is expected in December or January, following an October 21 deadline. This has created significant uncertainty in the global manufacturing sector.