The EPPO has seized assets in investigation into €9.8 million customs fraud involving e-bikes. – Photo EPPO

EPPO investigating more e-bike customs violations as assets seized in...

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - A freezing order has been executed against an Italian company suspected of a major customs fraud involving the importation of e-bikes from China, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has announced. The company has been accused of evading more than €9.8 million in customs duties. This latest case raises questions about how complex it is to import e-bike components into the EU.

Sales of e-bikes in the UK reached an estimated £325 million (€385 million) in 2023 and are expected to grow further in the coming years. – Photo Bike Europe

UK considering revoking anti-dumping duties on Chinese e-bikes

LONDON, UK - Existing tariffs on e-bikes imported into the UK from China range from 18.8% to 79.3%. These measures were transitioned when the UK left the EU following Brexit. Following a period of investigation the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has now deemed that keeping anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on Chinese e-bikes "would not be in economic interest of the UK" and should be revoked.

“Increasing tariffs on domestic importers and manufacturers without providing incentives to shift production from China  is unfair,'"  US trade organisation PeopleForBikes says. - Photo Shutterstock

US e-bike market threatened by 25% tariff on lithium-ion batteries

WASHINGTON, USA - The latest publication by the US Trade Representative (USTR) regarding tariff action has not brought any clarification whether the import of lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes from China will be hit by a 25% additional duty. "Some ambiguity remains on what the announcement means for existing bicycle products receiving exclusions from Section 301 tariffs," writes PeopleForBikes, Policy Counsel Matt Moore in a statement today.

According to the European Public Prosecutor, the two companies imported e-bikes into Belgium in separate parts, allegedly to avoid the payment of anti-dumping duties due on the importation of fully assembled e-bikes. – Photo EPPO

Three convicted for evading €3.1 million in duties on imported...

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - One individual and two companies have been found guilty of evading customs duties on the importation of e-bikes from China. The case was investigated and prosecuted by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Brussels last week. In total, the three defendants were found guilty of evading €3.1 million in customs duties and were sentenced to a fine of over €15.5 million each.

LEVA-EU hosted a meeting for its members with the European Commission on the topic of anti-dumping regulations. – Photo Shutterstock

LEVA-EU and members meet EU Commission to discuss e-bike anti-dumping

BRUSSELS, Belgium - To draw attention to the impact of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures against made-in-China e-bikes, LEVA-EU hosted a meeting with the European Commission. According to LEVA-EU more than 40 company representatives and lawyers signed up for the meeting held on March 15.

The EU-Commission writes in a statement that, “the request is based on the grounds that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in continuation of dumping and recurrence of injury to the European industry.” – Photo Bike Europe

EU Commission opens expiry review for anti-dumping on China made...

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The use of anti-dumping and anti-circumvention duties as a trade regulation for e-bikes from China has been much discussed in the industry in the past 5 years. On request of the European Bicycle Manufacturers Association (EBMA), the European Commission has initiated an expiry review of the current e-bike anti-dumping measures.

The 30th anniversary of dumping duties on bicycles comes with a complex set of rules. – Photo Shutterstock

Has the anti-dumping regulation become too complex in 30 years?

BRUSSELS, the Netherlands - The bankruptcy of the e-bike company Qwic was partly attributed by the owners to an unexpected tax bill for anti-dumping duties. In the past 3 decades several extensions were added to make the trade regulation with anti-dumping and anti-circumvention rulings. The question is now raised whether the regulation has become too complex or should companies inform themselves better?

The two new cases are related to 2 Belgium companies while their names remained undisclosed. - Source The European Public Prosecutor’s Office

E-bike anti-dumping fraud investigation against Belgium importers

LUXEMBURG - The European Public Prosecutor's Office reports that it has filed two separate indictments at the Court of Antwerp, Belgium for the evasion of customs duties on the importation of e-bikes from China. In both cases they are accused of presenting incorrect customs declarations in order to evade anti-dumping and countervailing duties.

Leon Cycles denies to have imported any e-bike produced in mainland China since July 2018. – Photo Leon Cycles

Leon Cycles owner released from prison while anti-dumping fraud...

PARIS, France - Leon Cycle reports that company owner Lijun Ding has been released last on 10 July. The investigation is on-ongoing but no longer required his detention decided the European Public Prosecutor.

Part of the review is to determine whether injury to the UK industry would be likely to continue or recur if the measures were no longer applied. – Photo Shutterstock

British e-bike anti-dumping duties under review

LONDON, UK - The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has initiated a transition review this week into anti-dumping and countervailing measures on e-bikes imported in the United Kingdom from China. The TRA will determine whether dumping would be likely to continue or recur if the measures were no longer applied.

Following the European Court decision last year, the European Commission has decided to recalculate the anti-dumping and anti-circumventing duty for Giant e-bikes made in Kunshan, China. – Photo Giant Kunshan

EU Commission lowers anti-dumping duties for Giant Kunshan

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission has agreed on the final judgement of the General Court of the European Union and imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on e-bikes from China made by Giant Electric Vehicle (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. The Commission also decided to lower the duty from 24.6% to 13.8%.

According to LEVA-EU the current anti-dumping regulation is an obstacle to starting a new business. – Photo Shutterstock

'Anti-dumping regulation obstructs new e-bike assemblers in Europe'

GENT, Belgium - Trade association LEVA-EU argues that the lack of knowledge and ignorance of the bike and e-bike anti-dumping regulations by custom's authorities in various European countries, has become a big hinderance in the development of the e-bike industry in Europe.

The new exporter status of the two Chinese companies came into effect on Wednesday 30 November. – Photo Shutterstock

UK lowers anti-dumping tariffs for two Chinese e-bike manufacturers

LONDON, UK - For the imports of two Chinese e-bike manufacturers, the UK government has imposed an anti-dumping tariff rate of only 16.2%, as opposed to the standard 62.1%, the UK's Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has announced. The reduced tariff will refer to e-bikes entering the UK.

The TRA opened a new exporter review into electric bicycles from China in June, following a request from two exporters. - Photo Shutterstock

UK trade body proposes new tariffs for two Chinese e-bike exporters

LONDON, England - Two Chinese e-bike manufacturers who are new to the UK market should be allowed to move to a lower import tariff rate - this has been proposed by the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), a body of the UK governments' Department for International Trade. With e-bike sales on the rise in the UK, "the change in tariff rate would help meet demand in this growing market," the TRA said in a statement.

Giant Electric Vehicle disagreed with the EU Commission’s decision in 2019 and took the case to court. – Photo Bike Europe

European General Court withdraws anti-dumping duties for Giant...

LUXEMBOURG - The anti-dumping case on e-bikes imported from China might enter an all-new chapter after the first level judgement of the European General Court. The court has annulled anti-dumping and countervailing duties implemented by the European Commission back in 2019 on e-bikes made in China by Giant Electric Vehicle Kunshan Co. Ltd.

LEVA-EU claims that the EU regulation makes it almost impossible to start up new e-bike companies. – Photo Bike Europe

LEVA-EU supports e-bike makers claim against 'unjust' component...

GENT, Belgium - Trade association LEVA-EU says companies that solely assemble e-bikes are confronted with unfair competition that is threatening their existence. EU regulation makes it almost impossible to start up new companies and could severely hinder the EU's net-zero emissions target.

The UK will officially leave the European Union on January 1st 2021, but the full effect of Brexit on e-bike trade and regulations is still unclear. - Photo Shutterstock

Ensuring compliance for UK e-bike exports post-Brexit

LONDON, England - While talks to ensure a Brexit deal are still on-going, e-bike manufacturers and exporters need to prepare legal provisions for trading in the UK market. Although a lot still remains uncertain, somethings are now clearer,

European Commission made it possible for assemblers based in Europe to import China-made e-bike and bicycle parts for their e-bike production with an exemption or apply for it. – Photo Kross

EU implements regulation for imported Chinese e-bike parts

BRUSSELS, Belgium - To provide more legal certainty for e-bike assemblers in Europe, the European Commission amended the anti-circumvention regulation for the import components made in China. Under the new regulation 2020/1296 published in the Official Journal, the