The Kamler Family, owner of Kent International, based in Fairfield, NJ, has been in the bicycle business for four generations.
“When I joined the company in 1972, we had six employees, including my parents and myself,” former Kent International CEO Arnold Kamler told CBS News. “As of a few months ago, we had more than 200 employees.”
Arnold took over Kent International from his father. Now his son, Scott Kamler, is CEO. They sell about 2 million bikes in the U.S. every year, and they are one of Walmart's largest suppliers. But President Trump Tariff Plan yes Throw the wrench Enter their American Dream.
About 90% of Kent bicycles are imported from China. The rest of the plants in the United States are assembled with Asian parts. Since the first Trump administration, Kent has paid a 25% tariff on bicycles and bicycle parts from China. But a recent shipment was delayed and arrived during the new tariff period under the tariffs imposed by Trump last month, forcing the company to pay a total of 181.47% of import duties and tariffs.
During the month between March 20 and April 20, Kent bicycles paid only $3.1 million in tariffs.
According to Arnold, bicycle wheels imported from China will increase to about $30 under the new tariffs.
He said it made him feel "really bad" and "angry".
"China does not pay these tariffs," Arnold said. "We have an account where they automatically deduct import obligations from our accounts once a month. So, not only is this import tax, but these tariffs are deducted."
The company canceled new orders from China in April and has no plans to place new orders in May.
Even if the Trump administration lowers tariffs on China, there are Dozens of other countries Facing new tariffs. Therefore, it seems like it is futile to try to find other foreign suppliers.
"We've moved almost half of our business to several countries on that list," Cramer said. "And we're leaving China and we're still being slammed. It's totally unfair."
Arnold said that it seems financially unjudgmentable to fully manufacture and assemble bicycles in the United States in terms of cost.
“I can’t even calculate that high,” Kramer said of what he thought the bikes produced here would cost. I will tell you a simple story. A few years ago, a company came to us. They want to make the handlebars for us. Now, we used to make our own handlebars for about a dollar, and we saved some money by buying from Asia. This company took me three months to offer a three-month offer, bringing you a simple bmx instead bel the Elect of the You the $12, I said $12. yes? ' "Okay, there's a lot of work." I said, "Okay, thank you, you might lose my phone number." So you could use (AS) as an example to (one)... I mean, if all the parts are made here right now, the $100 bike here would be $1,000. ”