Calling eBike retailers and importers – are tariffs on China’s eBikes affecting trade?

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has opened a survey to understand the economic impact of the tariffs paid on eBikes imported from China.

eBike retailers and consumers with an interest in electric bikes are invited to take part before closing on 27 August 2023. Meanwhile, eBike importers and producers are invited to have their say on a separate questionnaire.

It’s the first time TRA has conducted a survey for a trade remedy case, it said, as part of a trial to collect information from “harder to reach groups”.

Earlier this year, the TRA announced it would be reviewing anti-dumping and countervailing measures on electric bikes imported from China into the UK. The TRA is a new body, set up in 2021, following the UK’s departure from the European Union. Therefore, this might precipitate a split in approach to eBikes from China between the UK and its old trading bloc, the EU. If it the two part ways in tackling eBikes from China, may have considerable impact on the trade in terms of complication, but also doubtless some business opportunities.

Tariffs on China’s eBikes range from 18.8% to an eye-watering 79.3%. Exporters who participated in the original EU investigation but weren’t sampled get the cooperating rate: 33.4%. Exporters who didn’t participate or didn’t cooperate get the non-cooperating rate: 79.3%.

The consumer survey is anonymous, however business respondents may be asked to clarify information and for transparency, the TRA will publish any evidence provided.

Brexit has resulted in added complication for business, although there have been opportunities (like the potential to cut prices on China’s eBikes arriving on UK shores). The poorly handled UKCA marking saga with its deadline push backs and question marks over sufficient UK testing facilities has – anecdotally – not been well received by UK businesses, which generally enjoy clarity and dependable measures they feel safe to invest against.