Customs authorities begin Chinese e-Bike registration

It has been confirmed by the European Commission that registration of electric bikes hailing from the People’s Republic of China will begin tomorrow (May 4th).

All bicycles with pedal assistance, with an auxiliary electric motor and falling under CN codes 8711 60 10 and ex 8711 60 90 (TARIC code 8711 60 90 10) are to be affected by the change.

LEVA-EU manager Annick Roetynck stresses that this “does not mean that there are duties applicable yet and it does not implicate the certainty that duties will become applicable.

“It only means that retroactive collection of duties is made possible. However, for that to happen, the Commission will need to decide for provisional duties. The deadline for a decision on provisional duties is 20th July. But, for provisional duties to result in retroactive collection, the Commission needs to decide on definitive duties. That decision is expected around January 2019.”

Retroactive collection would apply only to imports registered later than May 4th.

In the case that provisional duties do come to fruition, such fees will not be payable immediately, instead secured by guarantee.

“At this moment in time, it is still impossible to make any prognosis as to the potential imposition of definitive duties nor on the level of such duties,” outlines LEVA-EU, acting on behalf of the Collective of European Importers of Electric Bicycles.

The collective, made up of representatives around the globe keen to see tariffs on Chinese exports into Europe remain as they are, plan to continue to act alongside lawyers to analyse and deconstruct the case, with comments submitted to the European Commission inside the next 21 days.

On behalf of the Collective, Roetynck added: “Although this is a setback, it affects in no way our determination to continue to fight for the Collective.”