Cambodia passes China to become the largest bike exporter to the U.S.
WASHINGTON (BRAIN) Bicycle imports fell 11% in value in the first half of 2025, according to figures released by the Census this week. As the industry attempted to respond to tariff news out of Washington, the source nations changed significantly.
Imports from China plummeted 42% through June as the industry looked to Cambodia as a preferred alternative, at least for now. The value of imports from that nation was up 77% to $132 million, passing China to become the largest supplier nation to the U.S. so far this year.
The Trump administration has threatened various new tariffs on Chinese imports that when combined with pre-existing duties and Section 301 tariffs applied during the first Trump administration could have raised the tariff rate into the triple digits. Currently the administrations reciprocal tariff on Chinese imports is 30% in addition to various other tariffs. A new rate is set to take effect Aug. 12.
Meanwhile, a temporary 10% reciprocal tariff has been in effect on imports from most countries since soon after President Trump announced the plan on April 2. New rates, mostly higher than 10%, are set to take effect Aug. 7. The new rate on Cambodia, for example, will be 19%.
Taiwan imports have been at 10% since April but are set to increase to 20% this week. So far this year, U.S. bike imports from Taiwan are down 20%, while imports from Malaysia, Indonesia and India increased.
The figures are for all complete bikes but not e-bikes.
Vietnams exports to the U.S. were the most variable. Although Vietnams total for the first half was almost exactly the same as the period last year, the changes varied widely month to month. Imports were down in January and February, up in March and April, down 32% in May and then up 72% in June, to finish the half 0.1% up.
The Vietnam fluctuations are likely explained by the wide fluctuations in tariffs, threatened or otherwise, on that countrys exports to the U.S. Trumps initial reciprocal rate announced for Vietnam was 46%, which sent importers scrambling. However, that rate was lowered to 10% until this month. The Trump administration announced it reached an agreement with Vietnam that will set its rate at 20%.
