Tariffs force U.S. bicycle company to halt imports from China
Source: CBS News
Updated on: May 7, 2025 / 4:36 AM EDT
The Kamler family, owner of Fairfield, New Jersey-based Kent International, has been in the bicycle business for four generations. "When I joined the company in 1972, we had six employees, including both my parents and myself," former Kent International CEO Arnold Kamler told CBS News. "And as of a few months ago we had over 200 employees."
Arnold took over Kent International from his father. Now his son, Scott Kamler, is CEO. They sell about two million bikes per year in the U.S. and they're one of Walmart's biggest suppliers. But President Trump's plan for tariffs is throwing a wrench into their American dream.
About 90% of Kent bikes are imported from China. The rest are assembled in the U.S. at their factory in South Carolina with parts from Asia. Kent had been paying 25% tariffs on bikes and bike parts coming from China since the first Trump administration. But under the tariffs implemented by Mr. Trump last month, a recent shipment that was delayed and arrived during the new tariff period forced the company to pay a combined 181.47% in import duties and tariffs.
During the one-month period from March 20 to April 20, Kent Bikes paid $3.1 million in tariffs alone. Under the new tariffs, a bicycle wheel imported from China that would have previously cost between $10 and $12 increased to about $30, according to Arnold. He says that makes him feel "really bad" and "angry." "China is not paying these tariffs," Arnold said. "We have an account with U.S. customs where they automatically deduct once a month, the import duty, from our account. And so, it's not only import duty, but these tariffs are deducted."
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tariffs-u-s-bicycle-company-kent-international-halts-imports-from-china/
= new reply since forum marked as read
HAVE called it a "tax on the (fill in the blank - middle class and/or working class and/or American people) " (or equivalent wording). 
E.g. (the reporter's question wasn't picked up on the mic at the beginning but the response is fine sound-wise) -
...a couple of bucks more.... 