US Tariffs Cripple Bicycle Importer, Exposing High Cost of American Manufacturing
Kent International, a four-generation family business, has seen its growth significantly hampered by recent tariffs imposed on imported goods from China. The company, a major Walmart supplier, imports approximately 90% of its bicycles from China and now faces import duties exceeding 180%, resulting in substantial financial losses. This has forced Kent to cancel orders and explore alternatives, but finding comparable pricing outside of China proves incredibly difficult. The high cost of domestic manufacturing makes complete U.S. production economically infeasible.
John Q. Hosedrinker