PeopleForBikes' Tariff Resource Hub

Escalating trade pressures are disrupting every link in the bicycle supply chain, driving up costs, complicating sourcing, squeezing margins, and shaking consumer confidence. Our new resource hub breaks down what’s happening, why it matters, and how PeopleForBikes is leading the charge to protect the bike industry and your business.

ACCESS THE TARIFF RESOURCE HUB

2025 BIKE INDUSTRY TRADE AND TARIFF UPDATES

April 3 Update

Bicycle Industry Successfully Opposes New Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

Yesterday, the president announced that the bicycle industry will not be subject to new Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs.

Since October, PeopleForBikes and our members have taken action against two requests to add a 50% tariff to the steel and aluminum content of all bicycles, e-bikes, and frames. By mobilizing our industry, forming coalitions with key partners, and developing a strategic messaging campaign to communicate the harmful effects of these tariffs, the bike industry filed more than 1,300 comments in opposition to this proposal — more than any other industry. PeopleForBikes also worked with key members of Congress and had several meetings with senior staff at the Department of Commerce to elevate our concerns to the most important policymakers. After months of deliberations, the administration issued that there will be no new tariffs on bikes and a removal of existing steel tariffs on e-bikes.

While the structure of the revised Section 232 tariffs are complex and exact tariff rates will be variable based upon the origin and source country of the steel, aluminum, and copper used to manufacture a product, none of the complex entry documentation associated with those determinations now applies to any core complete bicycle or e-bike HTS categories.

Pending Section 232 Inclusion Requests

The inclusion request process to add derivative steel and aluminum products to Section 232 tariff actions was completely terminated. This means that the two pending requests by Guardian Bikes and the Aluminum Extruders Council will not be granted. 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.

Bicycles, e-bikes, and frames will not be added as derivative products to the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum at this time, and importers will therefore not have to determine the metal content of these products and pay additional tariffs on that content.

Removal of Certain Derivative Products

The president also determined, based on information and advice from the Secretary of Commerce, that certain products listed on Annex II should be removed from the list of derivative products previously added to the Section 232 tariffs. Products of relevance to the bike industry include:

Remaining Products Subject to Section 232 Steel Tariffs

Derivative products listed in Annex I-A and I-B will be subject to either a 50% tariff (Annex I-A) or a 25% tariff (Annex I-B). There are some exceptions for products from the UK or other trading partners that have reached or will reach a reciprocal trade agreement with the United States and are made with U.S.-origin metal or metal sourced in that country. Manufacturers should review these annexes and consult with their customs brokers or trade counsel to determine whether their imported products remain subject to applicable Section 232 tariff rates. Products of obvious relevance to the bicycle industry include:

You can read the proclamation here and the annexes here.

These changes will go into effect on April 6, 2026. It is likely that a Federal Register notice and changes to the HTS tariff code to effectuate this proclamation will be published on April 3 or shortly thereafter.

PeopleForBikes extends our sincere gratitude to our members for their extraordinary engagement in these recent Section 232 tariff relief efforts. Your collective action sent a clear and powerful message about the real consequences these proposed tariffs would have on businesses, workers, and riders nationwide. Your voice made a meaningful impact, and this level of unified advocacy continues to be critical as we work together to protect the future of the bicycle industry.

We will send more information about the Section 301 tariff process next week. As always, please reach out to PeopleForBikes Vice President of Government Relations Dr. Ash Lovell (ash@peopleforbikes.org), Policy Counsel Matt Moore (matt@peopleforbikes.org), or Director of Federal Policy Chris Bell (chris@peopleforbikes.org) with any questions.

March 12 Update

New U.S. Trade Investigations Could Lead to Additional Tariffs

The U.S. Trade Representative launched a new round of trade investigations that could pave the way for additional tariffs affecting imports from major trading partners. The investigations, initiated under Section 301 of the Trade Act, are targeting issues such as industrial overcapacity and government subsidies across countries including China, the European Union, Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Mexico. The Federal Register notice of these investigations can be found here. The notice does not identify specific product categories that might be subject to new Section 301 tariffs, nor does it provide potential tariff rates.

These actions come as policymakers look for new legal pathways to impose tariffs after the Supreme Court recently struck down parts of the administration’s earlier IEEPA tariff program. Officials say the investigations could conclude within several months and may lead to new duties designed to replace temporary tariffs currently in place.

Why This Matters for the Bicycle Industry

For companies across the bicycle supply chain, these developments signal continued volatility in U.S. trade policy. These new tariff actions targeting major manufacturing economies could have ripple effects on costs, sourcing strategies, and supply chains.

What to Watch

The investigation topic relates to whether the listed countries have structural excess capacity and production in various manufacturing sectors, potentially including bicycles. In the coming months, the investigations will include public comment periods and hearings before any tariffs are finalized. Potential outcomes could include:

• Additional tariffs imposed on imports from major bicycle manufacturing regions
• Existing temporary tariffs may be extended or replaced with longer-term measures
• Enforcement around supply chains and manufacturing capacity may evolve

When New Tariffs Could Go Into Effect

It is not certain exactly when new Section 301 tariffs might take effect, but it will not be until at least May 2026, likely later. USTR will open a public comment period until April 15, 2026, convening with a live hearing on May 5, 2026. An additional seven days will be provided for post-hearing comments. It will likely take USTR several weeks or months following the hearing to issue a final report.

What PeopleForBikes is Doing

The Section 301 process includes opportunities for public comment and testimony. The PeopleForBikes policy team is organizing a strategy around how to best engage in that process to protect the U.S. bicycle industry’s interests. We are engaging with federal policymakers and trade experts while continuing to keep our members informed as the situation develops. We will also be monitoring how this investigation impacts existing bilateral trade deals and will provide updates as the investigation moves forward.

February 20 Update

Supreme Court Rules in Bike Industry’s Favor Regarding IEEPA Tariffs

On February 20, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the sweeping global import tariffs imposed under the 1977 emergency powers law (IEEPA) were unlawful, determining that the president exceeded his authority by using the statute to unilaterally impose broad tariffs on imports from nearly all U.S. trading partners. The Court affirmed the judgment of the Court of International Trade in Trump v. V.O.S. Selection, a case brought by 12 states and five small companies, including Terry Precision Cycling, a Vermont-based bicycle clothing company.

This decision represents a significant check on executive tariff authority and will shape presidential tariff policy going forward. It’s important to note that while this ruling removes a key legal basis for IEEPA tariffs, it does not affect tariffs imposed under other legal authorities, including Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs. While it is anticipated that billions of dollars in duty collected under IEEPA will be refunded to importers, the process and timetable for that to happen is not yet clear.

As your trade association, PeopleForBikes is actively advocating to reduce and eliminate tariffs affecting our industry. We remain committed to advancing fair, pro-industry trade policy. With your support, we will continue this essential work.

The IEEPA ruling will likely encourage the administration to pursue alternative sources of tariff revenue. PeopleForBikes is actively pushing back against the proposed inclusion of bicycle and e-bike HTS codes under Section 232 tariffs. In the coming weeks, the Commerce Department will decide which products will be added under the latest round of tariff inclusion requests. Our industry has submitted more comments in opposition than any other industry, and federal leadership understands there is significant opposition to these proposed tariffs.

The most effective action you can take right now is contacting your members of Congress and telling them how harmful Section 232 tariffs would be for your business. Lawmakers need to hear directly from businesses in their districts about the jobs, economic impact, and consumer consequences at stake. If you don’t already have contact information for your members of Congress, please contact PeopleForBikes Director of Federal Policy Chris Bell at chris@peopleforbikes.org. When you contact your members of Congress, feel free to use PeopleForBikes’ Section 232 talking points to discuss the negative impacts of these proposed inclusions on your business.

PeopleForBikes will continue to monitor developments and assess how the Supreme Court’s ruling might intersect with other ongoing tariff issues that impact bicycle imports and supply chains.

If you have questions about what this latest news means for your business, please don’t hesitate to reach out to PeopleForBikes Vice President of Government Relations Dr. Ash Lovell (ash@peopleforbikes.org) or General and Policy Counsel Matt Moore (matt@peopleforbikes.org).