Image Credit: Ricardo Soria, Unsplash
The UK government has lifted tariffs on non-folding e-bikes imported from China to the UK.
This follows a recommendation from the UK’s tariff reviewing body – the Trade Remedies Authority – which found that revoking anti-dumping and countervailing tariffs on Chinese non-folding e-bikes could save consumers £200.
UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds accepted the recommendation last week to scrap anti-dumping tariffs of between 10.3% and 70.1%, and countervailing tariffs of 3.9% to 17.2%.
“Like the government, we want more people on e-bikes and all the positives that come with it,” Oliver Francis, Co-Founder of British e-bike manufacturer Estarli, told Zag Daily. “Unlike the government, we feel the best way to make e-bikes more affordable for the public would be to introduce European-esq subsidies and therefore keep the investment in the UK. Instead, they have chosen to make things cheaper for the Chinese government.
“I hope the public recognises the quality differential and aftercare superiority of UK e-bike brands and their products. Similarly we hope the hard work of high street shops is appreciated. I think more new bike brands will generate confusion and actually drive buyers to shops for clarity and trust.”
The UK imposed its anti-dumping and countervailing measures on e-bikes imported from China following Brexit to keep in line with the EU.
However, its decision to lift tariffs on non-folding e-bikes comes shortly after the EU announced an extension of anti-dumping duties on Chinese e-bikes for another five years.
Whilst upholding tariffs on Chinese imports of non-folding e-bikes was found to not be in the UK’s economic interest, the Trade Remedies Authority provided the alternative option of maintaining tariffs on folding e-bikes.
This was accepted by the Secretary of State, with the Trade Remedies Authority stating that UK producers are more heavily concentrated in the folding e-bike market. Nevertheless, the body also states that non-folding e-bikes make up around 95% of the UK’s total e-bike market.
“Defending UK industry from unfair competition is important, which is why we’ve taken the decision to continue protecting UK folding e-bike producers based in the UK, whilst also lowering prices for consumers and importers of other products,” a Department for Business and Trade Spokesperson said.
“We’re continuing to take action on unsafe e-bikes and recently launched our “buy safe, be safe” campaign to raise awareness of the risks of dangerous e-bike batteries and scooters.”
The decision to lift tariffs on Chinese non-folding e-bikes, but keep them in place for folding e-bikes, came into force on 7 February.
