August 28, 2025 - (Mühltal, GER) Global premium cycling brand, Riese & Müller based in Germany, is briefly pausing shipments of e-bikes and e-cargo bikes to the U.S. due to stiff 50% tariffs on steel that came into effect on Aug. 19 and has notified its dealers. A statement from the company reads as follows:
“Riese & Müller is temporarily pausing e-bike shipments to the US to evaluate the latest steel tariff regulations and its implications before proceeding with further steps. We highly value the US market, and we are confident that we will find a short-term solution to successfully deliver to our dealers and customers there.”
The new steel tariffs were introduced under the Trump administration’s Section 232 rules that now impose a 50% duty on steel content in e-bikes imported from most nations, but 25% from the UK. This is on top of other existing tariffs that the overall import is still subject to.
According to People for Bikes, “… U.S. Customs declared that electric bicycles were added to the list of derivative steel products subject to a 50% tariff under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. This tariff will be applied to all electric bicycles and mopeds imported under HTS heading 8711.60 (including both 8711.60.0050 and 8711.60.0090) beginning at 12:01 a.m. on August 19, including in-transit products. Importers will need to calculate the steel content of their e-bikes and its value and report that value on entry documents. The only exception to the 50% rate is e-bikes made in the UK, which has a 25% tariff on steel content.”
The chaotic US tariff policies that began in early April and led to “reciprocal tariffs” then a “universal” tariff strategy, are creating challenging situations for the cycling industry along with many others.
The latest salvo includes the removal of the “de minimis” exemption, which allows packages worth less than US$800 to come into the U.S. duty free. A total of 1.36 billion packages were sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6 billion, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency reports CTV.
The exemption is set to expire on August 29 and postal services around Europe including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Italy and more have announced that they are suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid confusion over new import duties.
