Cheap Chinese e-bikes to flood into UK and hit British companies | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Labour have been accused of deserting British companies after tariffs had been axed on Chinese made electrical bikes.

Furious British bicycle producers have warned they are going to be “driven out” of the nation because the UK turns into swamped by low cost e-bikes from China.

Safety fears have additionally been raised about the usual of batteries, that are used to energy the bikes, coming from the Far East.

The tariffs, inherited from the EU following Brexit, have been scrapped on all non-folding e-bikes to the UK following a evaluation by the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA).

The TRA mentioned it might save the UK as much as £51million annually and that customers, on common, might save round £200 every on cheaper e-bikes.

But Wayland Austin, Founder of Austin Cycles Ltd, mentioned the transfer will decimate British producers and harm the economic system.

“This decision flies in the face of the Government’s commitment to sustainable and resilient economic growth,” he mentioned.

“The Government should be encouraging high-quality manufacturing back to the UK.

“This decision will drive UK cycling manufacturers out of the UK, which will hit the UK economy, cost jobs and reduce our advanced manufacturing base.”

Mr Austin mentioned the federal government needs to be “backing British bikes” as a substitute of creating it simpler for cheaper international companies.

“We should not be outsourcing our industrial wealth and prosperity to overseas countries.

“This decision will likely lead to the market being flooded by cheaper and less safe foreign imports at a time when the Government are rightly focused on improving e-bike and battery safety.”

Currently, Chinese bike producers profit from substantial subsidies, together with tax breaks and authorities grants—benefits unavailable to UK corporations.

Over the previous two years, the cycle trade has skilled important worth discounting, but gross sales have continued to say no.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade mentioned: “Defending UK industry from unfair competition is important, which is why we’ve taken the decision to continue protecting UK folding e-bike producers based in the UK, whilst also lowering prices for consumers and importers of other products.

“We’re continuing to take action on unsafe e-bikes and recently launched our “buy safe, be safe” marketing campaign to lift consciousness of the dangers of harmful e-bike batteries and scooters.”