WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The industry has survived a threat of tariffs of up to 50% on steel and aluminum products, which was proposed by juvenile bike brand Guardian and an aluminum trade group last year.
The White House on Thursday announced a modified list of products subject to Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs and bicycles are not on the list. The industry submitted over 1,300 comments opposed to the proposal, and industry groups and individuals directly lobbied law makers and the Department of Commerce to oppose it, as well.
The tariff would have applied to the steel and aluminum content of bikes, e-bikes and frames.
The administration also has removed e-bikes, exercise bikes and e-bike parts from a list of products subject to a steel tariff since last August.
However, some steel chains, chain parts, some handtools, hardware and bearings ret remain subject to the tariffs.
According to PeopleForBikes, the request from Guardian and the Aluminum Extruders Council to add bikes and e-bikes and frames to the list “was completely terminated.”
“There will not be future rounds of inclusion requests. Instead, the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative are authorized to monitor imports, periodically assess the progress of Section 232 tariffs towards achieving their stated goals, and consider input from trade groups and other stakeholders in determining whether additional derivative products need to be added or tariffs adjusted,” the group said on Friday.
