DUTY ON ELECTRIC BICYCLE FROM CHINA KIELCE BIKE EXPO IS A KNOWLEDGE-PACKED EXPO

The trend to transfer electric bicycles production back to the EU has been observed for some time. This means job opportunities creation.  This is an excellent result of the European Commission’s binding decision against subsidized products from China which result in dumping. . Reshoring is beneficial, also for Polish small and medium enterprises.

Is the the EU based production greener?

An ordinary or electric bicycle made in Europe leaves a much smaller carbon footprint compared to bicycles from China. According to the research results by the Polytechnic University of Milan, 50% of this negative difference can be attributed to coal. Coal is still widely used in China when steel, alloys, plastics and chemicals are made. The other 50% of is owed to transport, because containerised transport is still based on "waste oil". The trade deficit between the EU and China results in the fact that 60% of containers returned to China with no cargo in.

Without anti-dumping legislation, 20 million bicycles and electric bicycles sold in the EU would be imported from China. This would contribute to more than 2 million tonnes of additional CO2 and other poisonous gases emissions.  Every jobs-position recreated in the European bicycle sector, CO2 and other hazardous substances emissions drop to the level of 50 tonnes.

The electric bikes export from China has dropped significantly over the last year. This export peaked in January 2018, when more than 130 thousand bikes were brought in. By October it was reduced to nearly 9.5 thousand. This is owed to the European Commission’s temporary measures introduced on 18 July 2018.

European Cyclists' Federation (ECF)  also supports anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties designed to maintain quality, safety and service level observed in the EU.

Mateusz Pytko, Vice President of the Polish Cycling Association recapitulates:  - There are well-founded economic, environmental and social reasons for the EU’s bicycles industry, electric bicycles industry and cycling components industry to combat against subsidized products from China.

* according to the Chinese Customs Office’s data.  

(JL / MBr)