In a year dominated by tariffs and the bike industry’s frustration and concern at the controversial economic policies being implemented in the US, there has been no shortage of cycling brands bemoaning the impact of tariffs on imports.

So far, we’ve seen increased prices, worried statements about the impact on business and even some bike brands stepping away from the US market entirely — but kids’ bike manufacturer Guardian Bikes has now become something of an outlier, the company lobbying the Trump administration to go further and include bicycles and frames in a proposed 50% aluminium and steel tariff.

Donald Trump
Donald Trump (Image Credit: Notions Capital/Flickr creative commons)

Why? Well, according to a Section 232 Inclusion Request on a US Government website, Guardian Bikes’ co-founder and CEO Brian Riley has urged the Department of Commerce to include bicycles in the proposed tariff to “promote fair competition, enhance domestic supply chain security, and support national interests”.

“Appropriate tariff action will cement the US as a leader in sustainable, high-quality bicycle production,” the request concludes.

The situation has attracted attention in the US from Bike Rumour, industry body PeopleForBikes also urging people to follow its lead and submit comments in opposition to the two requests (there’s a second one urging bicycles’ inclusion in the tariff from the Aluminum Extruders Council) before the deadline today.

Explaining the potential impact of bicycles being included in the 50 per cent steel and aluminium tariff PeopleForBikes warned: “If these two inclusion requests are granted, all bicycles and frames imported into the US from any country would be subject to a 50 per cent tariff on both their steel and aluminium content. In addition, the value of the aluminium content of electric bicycles with motors greater than 250W would be subject to a 50 per cent tariff.

> Trump tariffs led to bike sales “free fall” says Chinese brand, as US imports plunge in first half of 2025

“Importers would be required to determine and declare the value of the content of each metal on entry documentation. All non-steel or aluminium content would be subject to all other tariffs. Base tariffs and section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports would also still apply to the entire product.”

PeopleForBikes has previously warned that the US bike industry may not recover from the “devastating consequences” of this year’s tariffs until the end of the decade, saying: “Escalating trade pressures are disrupting every link in the bicycle supply chain, driving up costs, complicating sourcing, squeezing margins, and shaking consumer confidence.” 

So why has Guardian Bikes called for imported bicycles to be subject to such a major tariff? Well, many online have questioned a potential selfish motive, the brand well-positioned to benefit if rivals’ costs are ramped up.

Earlier this year, Guardian Bikes announced a $19 million financing with JPMorganChase to launch “the first large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in the United States”.

Guardian Bikes suggests the new facility — located in Seymour, Indiana — represents “a pivotal step in reshoring a critical industry that was once a cornerstone of American manufacturing but has been nearly entirely offshored for decades”.

The Seymour facility oversees the complete manufacturing of Guardian’s bikes, with metal tubes laser-cut into frame parts, welding, painting, and assembly all undertaken at the facility currently producing 2,000 bicycles per day. 

We’ve contacted Guardian Bikes for comment. The business would presumably reject any claims about selfish intentions, the request filed with the Department of Commerce outlining the brand’s belief that the tariff would “promote fair competition, enhance domestic supply chain security, and support national interests”.

“The majority of weight of a bicycle is either steel or aluminium,” the request states. “Reshoring bicycle and bicycle frame manufacturing will eliminate over 200,000,000 pounds of imported steel and 40,000,000 pounds of imported aluminium into the United States annually.

“Anyone seeking to make bicycles in America using American steel for the frame faces severe competition from subsidised foreign imports, particularly from China. An astonishing ~86% of all bikes sold in the United States were imported from China in 2024.

“Guardian Bikes is already employing over 250 workers nationwide and currently assembling bicycles in Seymour, Indiana. Guardian Bikes will produce approximately 500,000 bikes in 2025, but domestic production remains a fraction of total U.S. consumption of over 10,000,000 bikes annually.

> “Devastating consequences”: US bike industry may not recover from Trump tariffs until end of the decade, lobby group warns

“The domestic manufacturing sector holds untapped potential to support high-volume bicycle production. A scaled domestic supply chain for bicycles will spur demand for domestic steel and aluminium, as well as metal fabrication, welding, tool and die making skills necessary for re-industrialising the nation.

“Many existing machine shops and component suppliers currently serving the U.S. automotive industry are well-positioned to transition into manufacturing precision high-volume metal fabrication, welding, and component production could be leveraged to rapidly scale domestic bicycle component manufacturing.”

At the end of the request, Guardian Bikes asks the department to consider applying “a ‘Specific Tariff’ against bicycle imports as part of any future modifications to the steel and aluminium actions”.

The request concludes: “Including bicycles in the covered derivative lists for both the Steel and Aluminum 232 actions is justified for all the reasons outlined above. And, hopefully, it will provide some relief.

“However, the current rate and formula for customs valuation — 50 per cent ad valorem on the metal content, and any applicable IEEPA tariff on the non-metal content — will certainly fail to protect the majority of imports, which consist of inexpensive, high-volume bicycles.

“In July 2025, the U.S. census recorded 387,528 bicycles imported under HTSUS 8712.00.15.10 (bicycles with wheel diameters not exceeding 50 centimetres). This category sees more import volume than any other of the HTS categories under heading 8712. And the July 2025 volume was an increase over July 2024, before Liberation Day tariffs. The value of those imports in June 2025 was $10,414,718, meaning the average import value of these bicycles was an astonishingly low $26.87 per bicycle.

“Even if the 50 per cent steel and aluminium tariff was applied against the bike’s transaction value (which would be higher than what the overseas fabricator claims to have paid for the steel or aluminium content under the current valuation approach), then the average duty owed would be a mere $13.44. This is insufficient to reshore production and sustain capacity and demand for bicycles made with American steel and aluminium.

“For this reason, Guardian Bikes urges the Department of Commerce to give consideration to applying a ‘Specific Tariff’ against bicycle imports as part of any future modifications to the steel and aluminium actions. This approach ensures that imported bicycles reflect the true cost of fair competition while encouraging domestic production.”

As of the 21 October, Guardian Bikes’ request had 489 comments replying to it, PeopleForBikes having encouraged responses to the claims.

Trump tariff headlines
Trump tariff headlines (Image Credit: Various)

Guardian Bikes’ approach goes against much of the messaging from across the industry this year, with numerous brands raising prices and expressing concerns about the impact of tariffs on imported goods.

> Bike industry on hold as uncertainty around Trump’s controversial tariffs continues

In August, Riese & Müller halted shipping its electric bikes to the United States due to import rules placing a 50 per cent tariff on steel. 

Trump’s economic policy remains a source of frustration for many across the bike industry, with the situation unpredictable. In June, Lauf Cycles became the latest bike brand to add a Trump surcharge due to “extraordinary tariffs” on imported components.

In May, reports suggested that BMC was set to slash a quarter of its workforce, the brand blaming tariff uncertainty for having influenced the decision. Likewise, high-end bike component brand Rotor recently closed its US office.

The impact of Trump’s tariffs on business has been the big talking point in the bike industry this year, numerous brands such as Trek, Specialized and Giant raising prices in the US as a result.

> Giant “inevitably forced to reflect cost” of Trump tariffs, as manufacturers warn US bike prices could rise by 50% amid “existential threat” to cycling industry

In April, Brompton boss Butler-Adams called the tariffs “naive”, with the folding bike brand’s US prices also likely to rise.

Silca sold out of its new electric pumps almost instantly, the brand blaming the “global tariff issues” for the product being “not currently economically viable” in the US, meaning that just 100 would be available to its American market.

2025 Silca Elettrico Micro & Elettrico Ultimate
2025 Silca Elettrico Micro & Elettrico Ultimate (Image Credit: Silca)

Meanwhile, a trade association representing the cycling industry in the United States has also claimed that the tariff trade war could lead to bike helmets becoming less affordable, leaving children “unprotected from potential injury”.