US electric scooter hire start - ups are under threat from the trade row with China because the companies use Chinese - powered machines . The category of companies attracting new tariffs includes a category that covers electric scooters , whose current cost of about $ 400 will soar to $ 500 with a 50 % discount . Start - ups are expected to charge customers more or use existing venture capital funding as a result , or both . Companies under threat include Bird , LimeBike , Spin and Uber ’s start - up , Jump . Public consultation preceding the next round of tariffs will give lobbyists a chance to convince the administration to exclude scooters .
US electric scooter hire start-ups are under threat from the trade row with China because the companies use Chinese-made machines. The list of goods attracting new tariffs includes a category that covers electric scooters, whose current cost of about $400 will soar to $500 with a 25% tariff. Start-ups are expected to charge customers more or use existing venture capital funding as a result, or both. Companies under threat include Bird, LimeBike, Spin and Uber’s start-up, Jump. Public consultation preceding the next round of tariffs could give lobbyists a chance to convince the administration to exclude scooters.