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UK drops Chinese e-bike tariffs – A boost or a blow?
February 10, 2025
Just when you think the UK government might finally get behind e-bikes, they go and slash tariffs on Chinese e-bikes. Sounds good for buyers, right? Maybe. However, there's a risk it will flood the market with poor quality imports, and for the struggling UK cycling industry, it’s a punch to the gut.
Most of all the policy feels like yet another missed opportunity.
E-bikes, with their potential to revolutionise sustainable travel, remain the only type of electric vehicle in the UK that does not receive any form of government subsidy. Unlike electric cars, which benefit from the plug-in grant and are at the centre of an ambitious - if sluggish - charging infrastructure rollout, e-bikes require no such investment in public infrastructure. Their batteries can be easily charged at home, making them an immediate and practical solution for decarbonising transport. Yet, year after year, they are overlooked.
By contrast, France has offered financial incentives that have propelled annual e-bike sales beyond 750,000 - five times the UK’s stagnant 150,000. That stagnation is no accident: the UK’s failure to support the sector has left it trailing behind European neighbours. Instead of rectifying this, the government’s latest move threatens to undercut domestic brands with cheap imports, while doing nothing to support quality manufacturing or safe battery standards.
Announcing the decision, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds accepted a recommendation from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) to lift anti-dumping duties on non-folding Chinese e-bikes. The tariffs, which range ranging from 10.3% to 70.1%, were originally introduced after Brexit to align the UK with EU trade rules, preventing artificially low-priced imports from undermining domestic manufacturers.
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The TRA claims removing the tariffs could save consumers up to £200 per bike, but the industry isn’t convinced. David Miall, who runs Wisper Bikes, called the move “very strange” and warned that it would open the floodgates to low-quality e-bikes from China at a time when the UK market is already saturated with unsold stock.
“They’ve overstocked too, and they now see the UK as a place to dump their bikes,” Miall told the BBC this weekend. “It’s a very scary time for the industry right now, and this will cause a lot of trouble for a lot of companies.”
The Bicycle Association has echoed these concerns, cautioning that the long-term consequences for UK brands and supply chains remain unclear. The group is now pressing HMRC for clarity on the specific definitions of 'folding e-bikes,' which will remain subject to tariffs. The decision to exempt only folding e-bikes from tariff removal raises further questions about the government’s approach - why protect one category but not another.
What's the problem with cheaper e-bikes?
Instead of supporting our domestic e-bike market with incentives or tackling dodgy retrofit kits flooding in from overseas, the government has opted for the easy route - cheaper imports. A £200 saving for consumers sounds great, but at what cost? Quality, safety, and long-term market stability are all on the line.
If the UK actually wanted more people on e-bikes, it would be offering grants like other European countries do. It would set clear safety standards for batteries and ensure quality brands thrive. Instead, we get a short-term policy that could cause long-term damage.
Insurance for an e-bike
We cover all road-legal electric bicycles as standard. If the output of your electric bicycle does not exceed 250 W/15.5 mph, we’ll cover it under our cycle insurance at no additional cost.
We also include Cycle Rescue as standard. If your e-bike develops a mechanical fault, you can call on our breakdown team 24/7.
Every cycle insurance policy of ours includes the following as standard:
• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue (breakdown cover for your electric bicycle and you)
• No devaluation of your bike over time
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)
Read a full list of everything we include as standard.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.
Information correct at time of publication.
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