Citing “severe competition” and market “flooding” by China, American firms have successfully petitioned the US government to consider new tariffs on 700 product lines. The requests, submitted to the Commerce Department, cover goods from bicycles to commercial baking pans.
Guardian Bikes, in its 11-page plea, blamed China for the 11 million bike imports in 2024 that have “lost” the US industry. Similarly, kitchenware makers American Pan and Chicago Metallic complained of an “unfair” advantage from low-cost Chinese cookware.
While China is the target of the complaints, the “steel derivative” tariffs would be applied globally. This means exporters in allied nations, such as the UK’s Brompton or Italy’s Pinarello, would be hit. This has European industry leaders fearful of the “rolling and growing” list.
This new tariff layer also threatens existing trade deals. The UK and EU already pay baseline tariffs (10% and 25% respectively) and separate steel tariffs. This new levy would be in addition to those rates, a move they argue “makes a mockery” of the pacts.
Given the near-100% success rate of a previous 407-item list, approval is expected in December or January. This signals an “expansionist” US policy that is creating global trade instability.