Hi Col, Electric Bicycles are and always have been a special case. Everything seems to be working well at the moment, the only reason to make a change as far as I can see is to feather the nests of the few European monster manufacturers.
Ebikes are simply not being dumped in Europe and Chinese manufacturers do not get huge subsidies, as everyone is aware this is simply about protectionism, nothing else.
In the 20 years ADT have been on Chinese non-ebikes, production has simply been moved to other Asian countries. Cambodia, The Philippines, Bangladesh, Tunisia*, and Thailand between them supply about 70% of the-non electric cycles coming into the the UK. The only reason that China has been penalised both in the past and now is that they are real threat especially in terms of product design and development.
*One has to wonder how many bikes are actually made in Tunisia, and these are not simply rebadged bakes from the far east.
If we want something real to worry about in the bicycle industry, consider this. A reported 50% of bicycle retailers have or are just about to close down in Shanghai area and Giant have cut production. Indeed Giant are now making the product that has shattered the industry in China. I believe this new threat will more than decimate bike shops throughout Europe too. Does anyone know what it is?