On Tuesday 19 December, the Collective of European Importers of Electric Bicycles held their first meeting in Brussels to discuss the proceeding concerning imports of electric bicycles from China.

The Collective is a group of importers in the EU, some of whom have been on the market for a long time and who all share the intention and efforts to develop solid, successful and growing businesses.

They have chosen to achieve this by developing long-term relationships with among others Chinese suppliers. They are working to grow the market. Since this dumping case threatens the market, they are united in their conviction to defend their interests, which ultimately will protect the European consumers.

The Collective is currently made up of 21 companies from 7 member states. A large majority of these companies was represented in Brussels. The main points of discussion were an agreement on legal counsel and the development of a strategy for the defence of the importers’ interests in this dumping case.

The Collective has decided to work with Squire Patton Boggs, an international law firm with extensive experience and success in a diversity of cases, including bicycle cases. Furthermore, the Collective discussed the case itself, as well as the argumentation to be developed. The anticipation of potential measures is causing unrest both in Europe and China.

The Collective is convinced that should dumping measures be put in place, this will hit consumers throughout the European Union in a very severe way. Both choice and overall offer will be limited. And if consumers’ access to electric bicycles, as sustainable means of transport is hampered, they will stay with or revert back to environmentally-unfriendly means of transport.

The Collective appeals to all companies, which are importing electric bicycles from China to join. The more companies in the Collective, the louder their voice. For further details please contact Annick Roetynck, tel. +32 9 233 60 05, email a.roetynck@pandora.be