Steel / Alu tariffs
03-14-18, 05:48 PM
#2
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Regrettably, it seems that many companies look for any reason to raise prices and blame it on Government regulations. This pattern has been the case for many products. I hope it does not.
03-14-18, 05:53 PM
#3
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I think that the tariffs are just on steel and aluminum stock, not finished products (I could be wrong, but I couldn't find anything definitive on the interweb). If so, US-made Fe and Al bikes will cost more, making imports more attractive. Ti is premium product compared to steel or Al, and the US-made share of US-bought bikes is probably pretty small.
Soooooo. It will make US made frames of Reynolds 853 or 953, or Tange or Columbus tubing more expensive. It will probably hurt prices and sales in that sector. But I don't think it will affect Ti bikes much at all.
Soooooo. It will make US made frames of Reynolds 853 or 953, or Tange or Columbus tubing more expensive. It will probably hurt prices and sales in that sector. But I don't think it will affect Ti bikes much at all.
03-14-18, 09:18 PM
#5
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The raw material cost of Al or steel is insignificant compared to actual frame cost (all tooling and labor needed to make a block of steel into a frame). In addition, tariffs are on the material only, not imported goods. So if anything, it will hurt manufacturing in US that requires such material. For bicycles, 99.999% is already imported in the shape of abike.
Aluminum at less than $1 / pound
Aluminum at less than $1 / pound
03-14-18, 10:01 PM
#6
Senior Member
Aluminum prices dropped in China
Should make a lot of stuff cheaper
Should make a lot of stuff cheaper
03-14-18, 10:02 PM
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No carbon fiber tariff?
03-14-18, 10:08 PM
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As such, only steel or aluminum bikes made in the USA would be affected, meaning virtually none.
Just about the only bike things that might be affected are tube sets like from Reynolds. However, I suspect, that for customs purposes these are considered a finished item made of steel , rather than steel per se. As such, these too would be unaffected.
The bigger impact might be on sales of USA branded bikes sold in Europe, depending on how the EU responds.
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Last edited by FBinNY; 03-15-18 at 07:04 AM.
03-15-18, 03:04 AM
#10
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I am willing to pay more for something made in the States as opposed to imports. Other countries put a high tariff on American products but we flood our soil with their's at a much cheaper rate.
03-15-18, 05:49 AM
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There is more steel or aluminum in most individual engine components than there is in a bike frame. IF there is any change, it will be negligible.
03-15-18, 05:50 AM
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Regarding the original question: as others have mentioned, the tariffs will likely not apply to finished bike frames, most of which are made in Asia. And even if the tariff applies to imported steel tubes used by custom frame builders in the US, it will constitute only a very small share of the cost of the finished item -- and a tariff will only be imposed if the tubeset comes from a country subject to the tariff.
03-15-18, 06:00 AM
#13
Not racing.
The senate can and probably will get rid of these tariffs.
They will likely not effect bike prices anyways. Most bikes are manufactured in china/Taiwan anyways.
With the Canada/Mexico exception, it is doubtful it will effect any prices. Canada is a major source of steel. Even if the need outpaces Canada/Mexico capacity, businesses could just bring the steel/aluminum through those countries to avoid the tariff. A steel/aluminum sheet is a steel/aluminum sheet, it would be mighty hard for CBP to tell if it was produced in Mexico/Canada or elsewhere.
It mainly discourages companies continuing to produce products in the USA, and we didn't need any help on that front.
They will likely not effect bike prices anyways. Most bikes are manufactured in china/Taiwan anyways.
With the Canada/Mexico exception, it is doubtful it will effect any prices. Canada is a major source of steel. Even if the need outpaces Canada/Mexico capacity, businesses could just bring the steel/aluminum through those countries to avoid the tariff. A steel/aluminum sheet is a steel/aluminum sheet, it would be mighty hard for CBP to tell if it was produced in Mexico/Canada or elsewhere.
It mainly discourages companies continuing to produce products in the USA, and we didn't need any help on that front.
03-15-18, 06:02 AM
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there aren't that many tubes made in the U.S. anymore, which is a shame. Finished goods, like a tube, are not covered by the tariffs. I think KVA and Vari-wall are making tubes in the U.S., so their prices might go up. But the percentage of the cost of a tube that reflects the steel content is pretty low. So I doubt it will have much of an effect. KVA reportedly makes Reynolds stainless tubing.
I feel like there is a high probability we will be moving this thread to politics. However, please don't take it in a political direction.
I feel like there is a high probability we will be moving this thread to politics. However, please don't take it in a political direction.
03-15-18, 06:13 AM
#15
faster downhill
the sky is falling!! gladly pay more for a quality American built bike built with American steel or alum.. why are we the only country to pay tariffs? so china can lower production costs?
03-15-18, 06:36 AM
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See Unterhausen's post above. Most (if not all) tubing is made abroad. So it seems that only tubing made in the U.S. from foreign steel and/or aluminum would be impacted.
03-15-18, 06:48 AM
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The tariffs are 25% on steel, 10% on aluminium
Both metals are really cheap per pound with or without the tariffs. And a bike doesn't have many pounds of either metal. There's maybe $15 worth of metal in a bike. So the tariffs might add 10%-25% of the raw metal price (Or $1.50 - $3.75) to the total cost of the bike IF and ONLY if the metals are imported then assembled in the US. Most frames are make in China. So no cost increase.
Both metals are really cheap per pound with or without the tariffs. And a bike doesn't have many pounds of either metal. There's maybe $15 worth of metal in a bike. So the tariffs might add 10%-25% of the raw metal price (Or $1.50 - $3.75) to the total cost of the bike IF and ONLY if the metals are imported then assembled in the US. Most frames are make in China. So no cost increase.
03-15-18, 07:04 AM
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What I said earlier.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
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WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
03-15-18, 07:09 AM
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The tariffs are 25% on steel, 10% on aluminium
Both metals are really cheap per pound with or without the tariffs. And a bike doesn't have many pounds of either metal. There's maybe $15 worth of metal in a bike. So the tariffs might add 10%-25% of the raw metal price (Or $1.50 - $3.75) to the total cost of the bike IF and ONLY if the metals are imported then assembled in the US. Most frames are make in China. So no cost increase.
Both metals are really cheap per pound with or without the tariffs. And a bike doesn't have many pounds of either metal. There's maybe $15 worth of metal in a bike. So the tariffs might add 10%-25% of the raw metal price (Or $1.50 - $3.75) to the total cost of the bike IF and ONLY if the metals are imported then assembled in the US. Most frames are make in China. So no cost increase.
03-15-18, 07:20 AM
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03-15-18, 07:27 AM
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Maybe we should all just be satisfied with the bikes we currently have until these tariffs get reversed in 4 years. Or is it 3? 
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03-15-18, 07:39 AM
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I'm not going to say anything because I don't know enough facts to say anything intelligent.
I just wanted to get in a post before the lock.
Oh - and now that I've gotten my post in, I've reported the thread as being too political.
I just wanted to get in a post before the lock.
Oh - and now that I've gotten my post in, I've reported the thread as being too political.
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03-15-18, 07:54 AM
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03-15-18, 07:56 AM
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Where were your bikes made?
03-15-18, 08:08 AM
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Well, I'm not planning on buying a new bike for a while, so I'll just be happy with the one aluminum frame bike and one steel frame bike I've got.