WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The 25% U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum that took effect Thursday apply to bicycle chains, some bike cables, perhaps some locks, and a wide variety of hardware and other products that are used in bike shops and by manufacturers.
Importers will take the biggest hit when they bring in Chinese chains, because they are now subject to a total of 70% in tariffs: 25% from the Section 301 tariffs imposed by the first Trump administration, 20% (two rounds of 10%) imposed this year, and now the 25% Section 232 steel tariff.
Chain parts, presumably including masterlinks and the like, are also on the list getting the 25% steel tariff.
The U.S. imported $13.2 million worth of bike chains last year (not counting chains on complete bikes, which are not subject to a separate duty), with imports valued at $5.4 million from Portugal, $4.2 million from Japan, $2.7 million from Taiwan and $493,000 from China. There is no pre-existing duty on bike chains, so chains from countries other than China are now subject to just the 25% steel tariff.
Consult your broker!
Besides chains, there is uncertainty about whether some bike products will get the new tariffs.
The steel tariff may apply to some bike cables. On the list of specific import codes that are subject to the steel tariff is HTUS 7326.90.25, which applies to "Cable or inner wire for caliper and cantilever brakes and casing therefor, whether or not cut to length - without fittings."
According to a Tariff Guide published by PeopleForBikes (available to PeopleForBikes industry members on the organization's website), that code should apply only to cables shipped without fittings. Otherwise cables come in under the HTUS code 8714.943080, which is not on the list of items getting the new tariff.
"There is some ambiguity," regarding the classification of cables, the Tariff Guide says.
Matt Moore, PeopleForBikes' policy counsel, notes that the primary HTUS chapters for bikes, e-bikes, frames forks and components are not listed in the Trump administration's lists. But he advised that importers consult their brokers to see if products they are importing are subject to the new tariffs.
One distributor told BRAIN he expects some steel bicycle chain locks and cable locks will be subject to the new tariff.
A wide variety of steel nuts, bolts, rivets, hooks, screws, wire and other products are on the list. Event organizers will be interested to see that safety pins are on the list.
Also on the list is 9403.20.00, which applies to some metal office furniture. The PeopleForBikes Tariff Guide mentions that the code has been used in the past to apply to some bicycle prototypes and bikes that are not rideable but used for display.
There appears to be no bike-specific products on the list of HTUS codes subject to the aluminum tariff.
Several U.S. manufacturers have told BRAIN they use domestic aluminum as a rule, but some expect the price of domestic aluminum to increase due to increased demand and a lack of domestic aluminum production capacity.
Boyd Wheels, which imports aluminum rim extrusions from Taiwan, does not expect the extrusions to be subject to the tariffs, Boyd Johnson, the company's CEO, told BRAIN.
A few other aluminum products could become subject to the new tariffs. Codes on the list match some of those in the PeopleForBikes Tariff Guide, including codes that have applied to some aluminum bike racks, wheel building tools, trunk-mounted bike racks, exercise bike parts and fluid bike trainers. Importers should check with their brokers.
