right now everything shipped direct <$800 gets an exemption, so that has to pass first. it's already been submitted to Congress so if it passes, you'll probably pay more even while Biden is still in office. higher Trump tariffs will be on top of that.
like I said in a 11/11 thread, the window of opportunity is rapidly closing. we'll be back to shopping for second hand di2 on ebay in no time, sorry //doom
I also want to add that for bicycle parts, taking away the consumer's ability to direct/"close to direct" purchase lower cost items from manufacturers/Aliexpress stores. we are forced to go through 2 additional mark ups that really aren't a value add for the consumer.
Importers and distributors From my perspective, these extra steps have little value add in our modern distribution system for consumers. Used to be that distributors actually purchased, and held in inventory, large volumes of consumables that were then distributed to the retailers. (an outcome of "lean manufacturing") Now distributors often don't carry any significant inventories.
There are very few "manufacturers" of bike parts in the USA. Seems like when any of them become successful they are purchased by one of the "international Big boys" and then their manufacturing is shifted out of the country anyways. USA distributors and importers like this system because it is easy money for them. They lobby for exemption from tariffs and duties and get them.
Bicycle industry is less than 0.5% of our GDP, so legislators really don't care about this industry and weather or not bicycles are manufactured outside the USA. But they blanket legislate and include this industry with others, then at a later date, give exemptions.
Edit: I might add that "We on Chinertown" are a very-very-very small percentage of people who build and ride their own bikes. Most of us are unique when compared to the average consumer. We love to purchase our own parts, build the bikes and then ride them. This is a hobby for most of us. Therefore, we are often penalized some way when we figure out a way to "cut-out the middlemen" to support our hobby. The large corporations are greedy and want every penny they can squeeze out of us.
2nd edit: As hobbies go, yes I can survive and ride only one bicycle, but because this is a hobby, I enjoy having many bikes. If the hobby becomes to expensive relative to my lifestyle, then, yes I can ride "
one marked up expensive locally purchased bike" rather then 10 hobby built bicycles. If the cost to me to support my hobby goes up too much, then I will find a less expensive hobby. This is one of the consequences of tariffs. The consumer pays more, but we then make the choice to stop purchasing these items.
