The European Union opened an investigation on Monday into whether to extend anti-dumping duties on Chinese bicycles, after European makers said they feared an influx of Asian imports could destroy their industry.

European manufacturers asked in March for a five-year extension to EU duties on the bikes that were due to expire on Wednesday.

A series of EU anti-dumping cases has increased trade tensions between Brussels and Beijing at a time when both are facing protectionist measures from Washington.

The bicycle tariffs – in place since 1993 and currently at a rate of 48.5 percent – also cover Indonesia, the Philippines and other states, on suspicion that Chinese bikes are being shipped via them.

They will now stay in place until the EU finishes its investigation, a process that will take up to 15 months, the bloc’s official journal said.

European producers of electronic bikes (e-bikes) have filed a complaint with the European Commission against cheap Chinese e-bike imports, saying that they are sold in the bloc at excessively low prices with the help of unfair subsidies.

The European Bicycle Manufacturers Association (EBMA) urged European Commission officials to act, saying Chinese manufacturers would massively ramp up imports into the bloc if the restrictions were lifted.

They argued that similar moves had already wiped out local bicycle producers in the United States and Japan.

The association says Chinese prices for energy, metal and chemicals are distorted and that international benchmarks should be used to calculate a fair price for Chinese bicycles.

It also points to Chinese data showing that Chinese-made bicycle exports to the European Union increased by 15 percent last year to 1.66 million units despite the duties, while EU bicycle sales fell by 6 percent.

The Commission is also investigating Chinese electric bicycles following a complaint brought by the EBMA.

Taiwan’s Giant, one of the world’s largest bicycle makers with factories in China, has been involved in both cases. It won a legal challenge in December 2017 to have import duties for it to be annulled.