The e-bike regulation issue leads to even more heated discussions in the United States than in Europe. Keeping all 50 states aligned is a big task for PeopleForBikes, and within the industry, differing interests regularly lead to friction. The topic was even announced as the phantom menace at the recent Bicycle Leadership Conference. What insights can Europe and the US gain from one another?
The growing complexity of the e-bike and bicycle landscape, across business, legal and mobility, requires industry alignment from time to time. Europe is left with some small-scale or national gatherings since the German industry association ZIV pulled out of Eurobike. The United States industry organisation PeopleForBikes developed the Bicycle Leadership Conference as the country's foremost education and networking event for the sector. Can this format be adapted for the European market?
A persistent and far-reaching campaign by the United States trade organisation PeopleForBikes to prevent bicycles and e-bikes from becoming subject to high metal tariffs has paid off. US President Donald Trump announced in early April that the bicycle industry would not be subject to the new Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs, which would have cost manufacturers millions on imported steel and aluminium products.
WASHINGTON D.C., United States - A renewed tariff battle threatens to deepen the fault lines in the United States bicycle industry as US President Donald Trump's administration weighs expanding steel and aluminium tariffs to include bicycle parts. Kids' bike manufacturer Guardian Bikes is lobbying hard for inclusion, positioning tariffs as a pathway to US manufacturing. But US trade association PeopleForBikes argues the resulting shockwave would accelerate the string of bankruptcies already rattling the industry.
GENEVA, Switzerland - In what economists are calling a "substantial de-escalation," the United States and China have agreed to a temporary cut of 115 percentage points to reciprocal tariffs on each other's goods. The volatility and unpredictability of the market as a result of the US President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs is creating a new problem for the bicycle industry, which was nearing stabilisation after previous inventory problems.
WASHINGTON DC, United States - Newly announced reciprocal tariffs by the Trump administration in the US has brought a renewed level of uncertainty to the bicycle industry supply chain. The proposed tariffs mean all bicycles entering the country will face some level of tariffs unless the frame itself has been manufactured in the US. The expected result is rising costs for importers on which the market relies and a stagnating retail market as US consumers face higher prices for a new bike.
