Video Tutorials・New Customs Rules・2026-03-12・Last updated:
On 12 March 2026, HowBridge's founder posted this video: the Ministry of Economic Affairs has removed electric vehicles, electric vehicle controllers, electric bicycles and scooters from the "small-quantity import permit exemption". No matter how many units you bring in or whether they are for personal use, an import permit is required across the board; otherwise the goods are penalised, detained or returned. Checking against the official announcement: from 10 March 2026, the International Trade Administration excluded three Mainland China-made tariff lines from the small-quantity exemption, and customs stepped up inspections at the same time. This article maps what the video says to the tariff lines, explains why it used to be possible and why it no longer is, what happens if goods arrive without a permit, and which routes remain legal.
Key points in 30 seconds: ① The International Trade Administration announced that from 2026-03-10, Mainland China-made electric motorcycles (8711.60.10.00-9), electric bicycles (8711.60.20.00-7) and controllers for electric motorcycles or electric bicycles (8543.70.99.50-4) are excluded from the "small-quantity Mainland China goods import permit exemption"; controllers had in fact been excluded since 2022-08-19. ② These three tariff lines already carry the import regulation MW0 (Mainland China goods not permitted); in the past they came in through the small-quantity channel of "CIF value up to NT$32,000 and no more than 24 units per item". That route is now closed for complete vehicles and controllers, and even one unit needs an import permit. ③ The scope covers electric motorcycles, micro electric two-wheelers, electric power-assisted bicycles and electric scooters. ④ Importing without a permit: the goods are returned or abandoned; if the product name is misdeclared, the Customs Anti-Smuggling Act allows a fine of up to 3 times the value of the goods plus confiscation; companies may also have their import and export rights suspended for 2 months to 1 year under the Cross-Strait Act. ⑤ The reason: unscrupulous operators split shipments under different individuals' names and under-declared prices to bring goods in "piece by piece", and micro electric two-wheelers that had never been tested or certified were creating road-safety problems.
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Customs notice: electric vehicles cannot be imported into Taiwan, whether for personal use or not, even if it is just one unit #TaiwanLine #HowBridge
The video was filmed on 12 March 2026, two days after the announcement took effect. The founder puts it plainly: the Ministry of Economic Affairs has removed these electric vehicle products from the exemption that let them be imported without a permit. Under the old rules there was no mandatory requirement; a small quantity, and especially one unit for personal use, was allowed in. Now the policy has changed and is being enforced: even small quantities of Mainland China goods need an import permit, and the targets are electric vehicles, electric vehicle controllers, electric bicycles and scooters.
His closing line is aimed at consolidation customers: it is no longer "bring in one unit, pay a bit of tax and you are done"; now, no matter how many units you bring in, they will all be penalised, detained or even returned. This article checks that statement against the announcements of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Customs Administration, item by item.
The International Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that from 10 March 2026, the following three Mainland China-made goods are excluded from the "small-quantity Mainland China goods import permit exemption". The Customs Administration's press release of 21 April added a reminder: electric motorcycles and electric bicycles include electric motorbikes, micro electric two-wheelers, electric power-assisted bicycles and electric scooters.
| Tariff line | Description | Import regulation | Column 1 duty rate | Excluded from small-quantity exemption since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8711.60.10.00-9 | Motorcycles with electric motor for propulsion (electric motorbikes, micro electric two-wheelers, electric scooters) | MW0 | 18% | 2026-03-10 |
| 8711.60.20.00-7 | Bicycles with electric motor for propulsion (electric power-assisted bicycles) | MW0 | 20% | 2026-03-10 |
| 8543.70.99.50-4 | Controllers for electric motorcycles or electric bicycles of heading 8711.60 | MW0 | 4.5% | 2022-08-19 (earlier) |
Why "not even one unit"：The import regulation on these three tariff lines has always been MW0 = Mainland China goods not permitted. The reason an individual could bring in one unit before was the small-quantity channel for industrial goods in Chapters 25–97: CIF value up to NT$32,000 and no more than 24 units per item, no import permit required. What the announcement does is remove complete vehicles and controllers from that channel. Once the channel is closed, MW0 means exactly what it says: without special approval, not even one unit can come in.
When the video says "the old rules had no mandatory requirement; one unit for personal use was allowed", it is describing the small-quantity exemption channel. That channel was never "personal use, no inspection"; it meant no import permit was required when the value and quantity were below the thresholds, and customs still assessed duty. The channel was first closed for controllers in August 2022 (because of illegally modified, over-speed electric bicycles), and then closed for complete vehicles in March 2026.
The Customs Administration and the Ministry of Economic Affairs gave two reasons. First, customs found at the border that unscrupulous operators were using the small-quantity exemption to import in batches under different individuals' names or with under-declared prices, bringing in unopened Mainland China-made electric vehicles "piece by piece". Second, the Ministry of Transportation reported that micro electric two-wheelers that had never been tested or certified were generating consumer disputes and road-safety problems. In other words, what was shut down was the route of "many people each importing one unit under their own name", which is exactly what the video means by "no matter how many units, they will all be penalised".
What about splitting it into parts, or routing through a third country?：If parts are split up and reassembled and the shipment has the essential character of a complete vehicle, customs still classifies it as a complete vehicle; controllers themselves have long been MW0 and excluded from the exemption. Routing through Vietnam or another third country without substantial transformation may constitute origin laundering. See the detailed analysis in 2026 rules for importing Mainland China electric vehicles and electric motorcycles into Taiwan.
The Customs Administration's press release spells out the consequences on three levels:
A forwarder cannot shield you either：This is law, not a term of service: HowBridge's China line does not carry electric scooters, complete electric bicycles or controllers. Even if the consolidation warehouse fails to catch it, Taiwan customs will still return or confiscate the goods on arrival, and the liability falls on the importer named on the declaration, which is you. For item-specific details see Can electric scooters be shipped to Taiwan? and Can electric bicycles be imported into Taiwan?.
What was closed is the route of "Mainland China-made complete vehicles and controllers, imported without a permit", not "all electric vehicles". The legal options:
30 seconds of self-protection before ordering：Enter the product name in HowBridge Smart Tariff Search: if you see a code starting with 8711.60 or 8543.70.99.50 with the import regulation MW0, do not place the order. For other Mainland China-made industrial goods, check tariff line by tariff line whether the small-quantity exemption still applies, and never generalise by product category. See the restricted list in Taiwan's list of prohibited and restricted imports.
No. Complete electric scooters are classified under 8711.60.10.00-9 with the import regulation MW0 (Mainland China goods not permitted). Since 2026-03-10 the Ministry of Economic Affairs has excluded them from the small-quantity exemption, so the former personal-use channel of "CIF value within NT$32,000 and 24 units, no permit required" is closed. Without special approval, not even one unit can be imported.
No. Controllers for electric motorcycles or electric bicycles of heading 8711.60 (8543.70.99.50-4) have been excluded from the small-quantity exemption since 2022-08-19, and Mainland China-made controllers cannot be imported without special approval.
Goods imported without the required import permit will be returned or abandoned. If they are misdeclared under another product name, customs may impose a fine of up to 3 times the value of the goods and confiscate them under the Customs Anti-Smuggling Act. A company that breaks the rules may also have its import and export rights suspended for 2 months to 1 year or its registration revoked under the Cross-Strait Act.
It used to rely on the small-quantity exemption channel for industrial goods in Chapters 25–97 (CIF value up to NT$32,000 and no more than 24 units per item, no import permit required), not on any "personal use, no inspection" rule. Because unscrupulous operators split shipments under different individuals' names and under-declared prices to bring goods in piece by piece, and uncertified micro electric two-wheelers were causing road-safety problems, the Ministry of Economic Affairs removed complete vehicles and controllers from that channel.
Yes, but you need certificate-of-origin documents and must pay customs duty (20% for electric bicycles, 18% for electric motorcycles) plus 5% business tax; to ride legally on the road the vehicle must also pass vehicle safety certification and be registered and licensed as required.
No. This announcement only covers three tariff lines: complete electric motorcycles, complete electric bicycles and their controllers. Other Mainland China-made industrial goods in Chapters 25–97 with an MW0 tariff line may still qualify for the small-quantity exemption (CIF value up to NT$32,000 and no more than 24 units per item). But the permit exemption does not exempt the goods from inspection, and you must check tariff line by tariff line rather than generalising by product category.
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This article is compiled from the International Trade Administration's announcement of 2026-03-10, the Customs Administration's press releases of 2026-04-21 and 2022-08-31, Central News Agency reports, and HowBridge's tariff database (synchronised with the Customs Administration's tariff schedule). Duty rates, import regulations and permit procedures are subject to the latest announcements of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Customs Administration; vehicle certification and licensing are subject to the rules of the Ministry of Transportation. It is provided for general reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual customs or legal matter.
Not sure whether it can be shipped? Check the tariff before you order HowBridge Smart Tariff Search is free: enter the product name to see the duty rate and import regulation codes. Our Shenzhen warehouse checks product names on receipt; goods that are MW0 and no longer eligible for the small-quantity exemption (such as complete electric vehicles and controllers) are not carried, while other shippable categories are consolidated to save freight and declared accurately for smooth entry into Taiwan. Register for free · Get your Shenzhen consolidation warehouse address