American businesses are increasingly pointing to China as the source of “unfair” competition, demanding new tariffs from the US Commerce Department. However, the protectionist measures they are requesting would apply globally, hitting European allies as well as Beijing.
Two kitchenware companies, American Pan and Chicago Metallic, complained explicitly that China was “flooding the market” with low-cost commercial cookware, putting them at a severe disadvantage. Similarly, Guardian Bikes of Indiana blamed China for its struggles, noting 11 million bicycle imports in 2024 had “lost” the US bike industry.
These firms are leading a charge of about 700 new requests to add products to the “steel derivatives” tariff list. While the justification often centers on China, the requested tariffs are global. If the bike proposal is accepted, it won’t just hit Chinese manufacturers; it will also apply to iconic brands like Brompton from the UK and Pinarello from Italy.
This is ringing alarm bells in Europe, where industries fear a “rolling” list of tariffs that will grow indefinitely. European exporters, who had already reconciled themselves to higher baseline tariffs under new trade deals, say these new derivative tariffs make a “mockery” of those agreements.
With the US Commerce Department having approved nearly 100% of the last batch of requests in August, analysts believe this new, China-focused justification will successfully trigger a new round of global tariffs to be announced this winter.