In early April, the president announced that the bicycle industry will not be subject to new Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, marking a significant policy victory for the U.S. cycling industry.
Since October, PeopleForBikes and our members have taken action against two requests to add a 50% tariff to the steel and aluminum content of all bicycles, e-bikes, and frames. By mobilizing our industry, forming coalitions with key partners, and developing a strategic messaging campaign to communicate the harmful effects of these tariffs, the bike industry filed more than 1,300 comments in opposition to this proposal — more than any other industry.
PeopleForBikes also worked with key members of Congress and had several meetings with senior staff at the Department of Commerce to elevate our concerns to the most important policymakers. After months of deliberations, the administration issued that there will be no new tariffs on bikes and a removal of existing steel tariffs on e-bikes.
While the structure of the revised Section 232 tariffs are complex and exact tariff rates will be variable based upon the origin and source country of the steel, aluminum, and copper used to manufacture a product, none of the complex entry documentation associated with those determinations now applies to any core complete bicycle or e-bike HTS categories.
Pending Section 232 Inclusion Requests
The inclusion request process to add derivative steel and aluminum products to Section 232 tariff actions was completely terminated. This means that the two pending requests by Guardian Bikes and the Aluminum Extruders Council will not be granted. There will not be future rounds of inclusion requests. Instead, the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative are authorized to monitor imports, periodically assess the progress of Section 232 tariffs towards achieving their stated goals, and consider input from trade groups and other stakeholders in determining whether additional derivative products need to be added or tariffs adjusted.
Bicycles, e-bikes, and frames will not be added as derivative products to the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum at this time, and importers will therefore not have to determine the metal content of these products and pay additional tariffs on that content.
Removal of Certain Derivative Products
The president also determined, based on information and advice from the Secretary of Commerce, that certain products listed on Annex II should be removed from the list of derivative products previously added to the Section 232 tariffs. Products of relevance to the bike industry include:
Remaining Products Subject to Section 232 Steel Tariffs
Derivative products listed in Annex I-A and I-B will be subject to either a 50% tariff (Annex I-A) or a 25% tariff (Annex I-B). There are some exceptions for products from the UK or other trading partners that have reached or will reach a reciprocal trade agreement with the United States and are made with U.S.-origin metal or metal sourced in that country. Manufacturers should review these annexes and consult with their customs brokers or trade counsel to determine whether their imported products remain subject to applicable Section 232 tariff rates. Products of obvious relevance to the bicycle industry include:
You can read the proclamation here and the annexes here.
These changes will go into effect on April 6, 2026. It is likely that a Federal Register notice and changes to the HTS tariff code to effectuate this proclamation will be published on April 3 or shortly thereafter.
PeopleForBikes extends our sincere gratitude to our members for their extraordinary engagement in these recent Section 232 tariff relief efforts. Your collective action sent a clear and powerful message about the real consequences these proposed tariffs would have on businesses, workers, and riders nationwide. Your voice made a meaningful impact, and this level of unified advocacy continues to be critical as we work together to protect the future of the bicycle industry.
