Citing “severe competition” and unfair market conditions, American companies are aggressively petitioning the US government for a massive expansion of import tariffs. In an 11-page plea to the Commerce Department, Indiana-based Guardian Bikes declared the US bike industry “was lost” due to the 11 million bicycles imported in 2024, placing blame on China.
This is just one of roughly 700 requests submitted by US firms asking for their foreign competitors’ products to be added to the “steel derivatives” tariff list. This list targets goods that contain steel, even in small amounts. If Guardian Bikes’ request is approved, the new tariffs would apply globally, hitting high-performance brands from allied nations like Brompton in the UK and Pinarello in Italy.
Another company, Red Gold, which cans tomatoes from 43 farms, highlighted a key frustration. In its 12-page letter, it argued that while it pays steep 25% to 50% tariffs on the raw tinplate steel it imports for its cans, foreign businesses can export finished canned goods to the US with “no comparable tariff,” allowing them to unfairly undercut domestic producers.
Kitchenware companies like American Pan and Chicago Metallic lodged similar complaints, accusing China of “flooding the market” with low-cost commercial baking pans for bread, muffins, and croissants, creating an “unfair” advantage.
The Commerce Department is expected to rule on these 700 requests in December. Given that the first round of applications in August was approved with a near-perfect success rate, US industries are optimistic their demands for protection will be met.