Mexico targets cheap Chinese bicycles with six-month anti-dumping duty

Mexico has imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty of US $68.60 per unit on adult bicycles originating from China, after the Economy Ministry preliminarily determined that Chinese bicycles were being sold below fair market value, harming domestic manufacturers.

The measure, which took effect on Oct. 13, will remain in place for six months and will apply to adult bicycles with a wheel size larger than 20 inches, including urban and mountain models, with or without gears, as well as unassembled units. Electric bicycles and racing or road bikes are excluded from the measure.

The decision traced back to an anti-dumping investigation requested in April 2025 by the National Association of Bicycle Manufacturers and the companies Mercurio, Veloci, Benotto and Línea Siete. The investigation formally began in August of that year.

According to preliminary results, Chinese bicycles accounted for 95% of Mexico’s imports of adult bicycles in 2024. Apparent national consumption of Chinese bicycles rose from 53% in 2022 to 61% in 2024, while the average price of imports fell 35% during that period.

In 2024, Chinese bicycles cost 27% less than their domestic counterparts. According to the Economy Ministry, this difference pressured the Mexican industry to reduce prices by 4% to stay competitive.

As more low-cost Chinese bicycles entered the country, Mexican manufacturers saw a significant drop in business. The Economy Ministry found that between 2022 and 2024, adult bicycle production fell by 34% and domestic sales declined by 32%. Meanwhile, employment dropped by 29%.

Sales revenue in the domestic market fell by 36% in the same period, while the industry’s operating profits swung into the red, a 111% drop. These figures led investigators to conclude that low-priced Chinese imports caused material harm to Mexican manufacturers.

During the six months that the preliminary duty will remain in effect, interested parties may submit evidence for or against the measures, while the investigation continues to determine whether to establish more permanent duties.

The provisional anti-dumping duty is part of a broader trend toward increased trade protection in Mexico. According to data from the Economy Ministry, imports falling under the 1,463 tariff classifications subject to new levies — approved in December 2025 — declined by 23% between January and May 2026, compared to the same period the previous year.

China, the primary supplier of the goods subject to duties, was the hardest hit, as its tariffed goods fell by 28% — from $10.1 billion to $7.2 billion.