The UK’s TRA (Trade Remedies Authority) is recommending anti-dumping measures on bicycles (and certain bicycle parts) imported from China remain in place, until 30 August 2029.

That recommendation is exactly that, and the government may choose to ignore it, but it seems a good indication that the UK won’t be parting with the EU in how it treats bikes arriving on its shores from China.

While the TRA’s recommendation might have seemed a foregone conclusion, the TRA has previously baulked expectations when it proposed the UK should drop anti-dumping measures on China-made eBikes. The government followed through on that recommendation earlier this year (on non-folding eBikes only), causing considerable disruption to the market. That represented a divergence with the EU’s stance.

The TRA acknowledged the thousands employed by UK’s bike industry manufacturers. It said that maintaining anti-dumping measures will “help to protect the UK’s bicycle industry, which includes many small and medium sized businesses employing thousands of people, from unfair international trade practices”.

Parts from China: “lack of clear evidence from industry”

There was an element of intrigue in the UK’s TRA press statement, where the body noted “the lack of clear evidence from industry participants” regarding the potential of removing anti-dumping duties on bicycle parts from China. With that information lacking, it said this was not presented as an option due to the continued risk of circumvention if the duties on parts were removed.

Retaining duties to benefit UK producers up to £9 million per year

In its Statement of Essential Facts, the TRA found that the dumping initially identified at the time the measures were first established would (as a result of China’s increased production capacity) likely resume if the measure was removed and that injury to UK industry would be likely as a result. The TRA determined that extending the current measure could help prevent dumping of low-priced bicycles and benefit UK producers by £1-£9 million per year.

Current anti-dumping duties on Chinese bicycle and bicycle parts imports range from 19.2% to 48.5%, depending on the exporter.

A period of consultation is now open, during which interested parties can comment on the findings and provide any additional evidence, before a final recommendation is made to the Secretary of State. Businesses that may be affected by these findings can submit comments to the TRA by 25 August 2025 and can do so through the TRA’s public file.

Source: Cycling Industry