BRUSSELS (Reuters) - According to a Reuters news report, the European Commission (EC) has completed its review of anti-dumping duties on traditional (non power-assisted) bicycles manufactured in China, and has sent a disclosure document to interested parties that indicate it will extend duties for a further five years.

Chinese bicycles imported into the EU have been subjected to anti-dumping duties since 1993, and presently face import duties of 48.5%. At the start of the year, the European Union also imposed duties of up to 79.3% on imports of Chinese e-bikes.

According to the document seen by Reuters and made available to interested parties, Chinese producers have spare capacity to make an extra 37 million bicycles. Additionally, bicycles were identified as a key industry in China’s present five-year plan and its Made in China 2025 initiative, meaning that there was a “strong likelihood” that Chinese manufacturers would return to selling at artificially low prices and in high volumes if the anti-dumping measures were lifted.

 The EC will publish its final decision no later than September 3, 2019.

Original report by Philip Blenkinsop (Reuters)