The move is in response to an increase in the number of Vietnamese e-bicycles imported to the EU after the bloc’s probe into Chinese imports, which has led to five-year anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on the products starting on January 18.

The bloc’s investigation into alleged illegal subsidies for electric bicycle imports from China lasted from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017. It showed that the EU imported 940,001 e-bikes, including 699,658 from China or 74 percent of the total. 

The probe also noticed a surge in Vietnamese e-bike imports. Accordingly, between January and early December last year, Vietnam shipped 138,467 e-bikes to the bloc for 66.9 million EUR, up 47.4 percent in quantity and 22.6 percent in value compared to the same period of 2017. The volume accounted for 12.4 percent of the EU’s total e-bike imports during the period.

The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam said the situation posed a risk of the European Commission carrying out a tax-avoidance investigation targeting Vietnamese exporters.

The MoIT said it is paying attention to the possibility of fake made-in-Vietnam products being exported. The body has joined the Ministry of Finance for tighter monitoring of the domestic market and export activities.-VNA 

Source: Officers inspect an electric bike store.  - Bridge