What's the Tariff on Bicycle?
Most bicycles imported from China and Taiwan.
Current Tariff Rate
65%
Pre-2025 Rate
11%
Rate Increase
+54pp
Price Impact
+65%
+$488
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$750
Trek hybrid bike
After Tariffs
$1,238
Trek hybrid bike
That's $488 more per unit — a 65% price increase paid by the American buyer.
Note: Price estimates assume full tariff pass-through to consumers. Actual retail prices may vary — manufacturers may absorb some costs, shift production, or adjust margins.
The Story Behind This Tariff
Bicycles face one of the steepest tariffs in the transportation category at 65%, combining IEEPA and Section 301 duties. China manufactures roughly 95% of all bicycles sold in the US — the domestic bicycle manufacturing industry essentially collapsed decades ago. The few remaining US assemblers (like Trek's Waterloo, Wisconsin facility) handle only premium models; mass-market bikes from Walmart, Target, and Amazon are entirely Chinese-made. The 65% tariff hits hardest at the entry level: a $200 kids' bike becomes $330, a $400 commuter becomes $660. This is particularly problematic as cities invest billions in bike infrastructure — bike lanes and bike-share programs lose value when bicycles themselves become unaffordable. Taiwan maintains significant high-end production (Giant, Merida), and some assembly has moved to Cambodia and Bangladesh, but China's integrated component supply chain (frames, gears, brakes) remains dominant.
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
China
Made in USA
3%
Import Volume
$3.1B
Alternatives
Taiwan (premium), Cambodia, Bangladesh (emerging)
📅 Tariff Timeline
2018
Section 301 List 3 — bicycles at 10%
10%2019
Rate increased to 25%
25%2025
IEEPA stacks additional China duties
65%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
42M
Annual Cost Per Household
$95
💡 Did You Know?
- •The US produced 56 million bicycles annually in the 1970s — today it's under 500,000, a 99% decline
- •China's bicycle hub in Tianjin produces 40 million bikes per year, many for US brands like Huffy and Schwinn
- •E-bike sales in the US tripled from 2020-2024, and nearly all e-bikes are Chinese-made, facing the same 65% tariff
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 8712.00
- Current Rate
- 65%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 11%
- Tariff Type
- IEEPA + Section 301
Legal Authority
IEEPA + Section 301
Effective: April 2025 (stacked)
Combined IEEPA emergency tariff and existing Section 301 China tariffs
The tariff on Bicycle is paid by the American importer at the port of entry and passed through to consumers as higher retail prices. The foreign manufacturer does not pay the tariff.
Who Actually Pays This Tariff?
Despite claims that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, the 65% tariff on Bicycle is paid by American importers — US companies that purchase these goods from abroad. The cost is then passed to American consumers through higher retail prices.
- ✓ The foreign seller receives the same price as before
- ✓ The US importer pays 65% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $750 → $1,238
Related Products in Vehicles
Sedan / Car
27.5%
Toyota Camry (imported): $28,855 → $36,785
SUV
27.5%
Volkswagen Tiguan: $30,995 → $39,519
Pickup Truck
50%
Imported pickup: $42,000 → $63,000
Electric Vehicle
127.5%
Chinese EV: $25,000 → $56,875
Auto Parts
25%
Transmission assembly: $2,500 → $3,125
Tires (Passenger)
35%
Set of 4 tires: $600 → $810
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