LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Chinese e-bikes have once again been implemented in a customs fraud case involving the evasion of duties when importing products into the EU market. Under the code-name Calypso, a complex scheme was exposed which led to raids across several EU member states. The total damage of the activities under investigation is estimated at approximately €700 million, although it is unclear how much of this is directly attributed to e-bike fraud.

WEXFORD, Ireland - Irish Customs Authorities have announced the seizure of over 4,000 e-bikes and a handful of e-scooters following targeted searches at two different warehouses in Ireland. According to authorities, the e-mobility vehicles - worth an estimated €4.5 million in retail value - were illegally imported to the European Union.

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Several European countries have been implicated in a new investigation of customs fraud in connection with disassembled Chinese-made e-bikes. Led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Portugal, 16 searches were conducted yesterday in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal, in order to collect evidence in an investigation codenamed 'Pedelecs'.

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - An investigation into suspected large-scale customs fraud related to the import of e-bikes from China is being led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In this latest case where the e-bikes are known to have entered the EU via Poland, the unpaid duties add up to an estimated loss of €1.8 million.

LONDON, UK - The UK Government has accepted the recommendation to revoke anti-dumping and countervailing measures on imports of Chinese non-folding e-bikes to the UK. The measure which came into force from 7 February 2025 will open the market to cheaper e-bikes.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The reaction to the EU's recent decision to extend the anti-dumping and countervailing measures against imports e-bike from China doesn't come near the heavy discussions six years ago when the measures were implemented for the first time. For that reason, LEVA-EU now draws attention to the cheap and non-compliant e-bike from China and the complex exemption processes for 'made in China' e-bike components.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission announced this morning to maintain the anti-dumping as well as countervailing duties on e-bikes imported from China for another 5 years. The Commission has opted for the imposition of per company targeted dumping duties. The dumping duties vary from 9.9% for Giant Electric Vehicle up to 70.1% for a group of non-cooperative companies.

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Four suspects have been arrested in The Netherlands on suspicion of large-scale customs fraud involving bicycles imported from China. The value of the alleged fraud is over €7 million.

GENT, Belgium - Trade association LEVA-EU is inviting e-bike manufacturers and assemblers across Europe to participate in a newly launched survey. The survey is designed to gather insights on the impact of European anti-dumping duties on bicycle components imported from China, aiming to provide a clearer understanding of how these tariffs affect the industry's competitiveness, business operations, and market growth.

LONDON, UK - The anti-dumping duty on bicycles and bicycle parts from China in the UK is now also under review. Last May the British Trade Remedies Authority already advised to revoke the anti-dumping duties on China made e-bikes in a preliminary recommendation. In case the same would be suggested for bicycles, it would bring a lot of uncertainty in the UK.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission launched an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of bicycles from the People's Republic of China. For this review DG Trade will hold hearings, mail questionnaires to producers and visit companies. The request was submitted by the EBMA (European Bicycle Manufacturers Association) representing the bicycle industry in Europe.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.