Portuguese company investigated for importing from China bicycles not assembled to avoid tariffs

A Portuguese company is being investigated by the delegation of the European Attorney’s Office in Porto for, allegedly, importing China electric bicycles in parts, not assembled. The goal would be to avoid rates against ‘dumping’.

« The investigation, called Pedelecs, revealed that since 2020, a Portuguese company has imported electric bikes (‘e-bikes’) dismantled from separated Chinese suppliers, with the aim of avoiding the payment of tariffs against ‘dumping’ applicable to the importation of fully assembled e-bikes, » the European Attorney’s Office (EPPO, on the acronym says in a statement. official).

Bicycles would be “totally designed in China on request” from companies in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, set up in Portugal. They were then resold by the national company on suspicion to the firms that had originally ordered it.

Imports « were deliberately declared incorrectly to the customs authorities. »

It is estimated that the alleged fraudulent scheme caused damage to the European Union of 2.25 million euros, says EPPO.

On Wednesday, 16 wide-scale searches took place in Portugal, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands to collect information, in an operation that was attended by the Tax and Customs Authority (AT).

The investigation is led by the European Prosecutor’s Office.

‘Dumping’ is a commercial practice that consists of selling products below production cost.