Blumenauer bill aims to boost US bike manufacturing

A look inside the Cielo workshop in 2013. The brand was shut down by parent company Chris King Precision Components in 2017. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer wants to incentive a more robust bicycle industry. Today his office introduced the Domestic Bicycle Production Act to “reinvigorate bike manufacturing in the United States.”

Rep. Blumenauer, considered the biggest bicycling champion on Capitol Hill is founder of the Congressional Bike Caucus and ranking member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. In a statement today, Blumenauer said, “Domestic manufacturing is the missing piece of the bike revolution. My legislation would give bike manufacturers the foothold they need to establish a thriving industry here in the United States.”

The move is inspired in part by a recent policy decision by the Biden Administration that will increase the price of bikes. A tariff exception on Chinese-made goods will expire next week and will result in a 25% tax on many products, including e-bike batteries and some kids bikes.

Here’s what the legislation would do:

  • Institute a 10-year tariff suspension on imports of bicycle components (i.e. electric motors, frames, wheel rims, hubs, brakes, saddles, pedals, gears, etc.) to incentivize bicycle assembly operations in the United States. 
  • Create a transferrable electric bicycle production tax credit for bicycles manufactured in the United States to encourage companies to utilize domestic manufacturing. 
  • Establish a U.S. Bicycle and E-Bicycle Manufacturing Initiative to make low-interest, 12-year loans to purchase capital equipment toward establishing or increasing capacity of domestic bicycle manufacturing facilities.

A one-pager prepared by Blumenauer’s office said the lack of domestic bicycle manufacturing is an illustration of “America’s industrial decline” since the 1970s when brands like Schwinn, Murray and Huffy drove a major renaissance for cycling in the U.S. The U.S. currently imports 97.8% of its bicycles, that’s down from the mid-70s when upwards of 10 million bikes were made here.

Blumenauer at his retirement announcement in October 2023.

“The bicycle market is one of the most overwhelmingly dominated import markets of all U.S. consumer goods. More than three-quarters of those imports are from China,” Blumenauer says. His office points to a bicycle making renaissance in Europe where production has gone up nearly 30% in the past decade thanks to a combination of trade policies and investment in manufacturing facilities. Blumenauer thinks there is a similar opportunity in the U.S.

Portland has been down this road before. Back in 2008, when Portland was the epicenter of a national renaissance in handmade bikes, our “bicycle industrial complex” was featured on the cover of Oregon Business magazine. With several high-volume bicycle makers in the region we seriously pondered whether a U.S. city like Portland could become a significant manufacturing hub. Since then, our local bike industry has become a shadow of its former self and the industry more broadly is suffering from a slowdown in demand and over-supply from the Covid bike boom.

Last fall, when Blumenauer announced he would not seek re-election, he said he’ll have more free time to pursue passion projects and has hinted since that he’ll lean into bicycle advocacy as a civilian. Helping reinvigorate America’s bike manufacturing heritage would be a fitting feather in Blumenauer’s cap. As the top House Democrat on trade, Blumenauer says he’s in position to frame this legislation as part of, “a pro-labor agenda that raises global environmental standards while leveling the playing field for American workers.” 

— Read the full text of the bill here.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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Snoopy In Action
Snoopy In Action
6 months ago

I need Portland to be the founding city of the United Bicycle Workers union like I need air.

David Hampsten
David Hampsten
6 months ago

Especially since most US bicycle manufacturing is now in South Carolina where wages are lowest and trade unions are banned, manufacturing cheap department store bikes.

Even with high tariffs, imported bikes and parts will still be much cheaper from overseas.

R
R
6 months ago
Reply to  David Hampsten

I occasionally see industry positions posted here that seem like they mesh with my skills but liking bikes isn’t ever going to convince me to take a 50% pay cut.

Chris I
Chris I
6 months ago

Great to see the All Powerful Bike Lobby at work!

Todd/Boulanger
Todd/Boulanger
6 months ago

Glad he caught up to my criticism of the holes in the past IIJA EV investments.

BUT, will he be sble to do much as a lame duck Congressman? I need to see who else has signed on.

PS. Portugal may be the model for Portland (and NW) for this type of investment. Pt produces about 70% of all EU bikes built (2022 data). And EU makes about 80% of its ebikes vs US (<1%? a guess).

G
G
6 months ago

Jonathon,
You could have put a photo of an actual shop that builds bikes, electric bikes, in the US if you had come over to my shop like you had told me you would last year.

Chris I
Chris I
5 months ago
Reply to  G

How many bikes do you fabricate per year?

Daniel, Bike Friday
5 months ago

We truly hope to see more bikes being built in the US. It is great to see big steps being taken towards this goal!