Posted on 06/25/2018 2:44:10 PM PDT by reaganaut1
Harley-Davidson, the American motorcycle manufacturer, said on Monday that it would shift some production of its iconic bikes overseas to avoid retaliatory tariffs imposed by the European Union in response to President Trump’s trade moves.
The decision, announced in a public filing, is the latest and most high-profile example of how Mr. Trump’s trade war is beginning to ripple through the United States economy as domestic companies begin struggling with a cascade of tariffs both here and abroad. While Mr. Trump says his trade policy is aimed at reviving domestic manufacturing, Harley-Davidson’s decision shows how the administration’s moves could have the unintended effect of reducing employment and economic growth in the United States.
Last week, the European Union hit back against Mr. Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs with penalties on $3.2 billion worth of American products, including bourbon, orange juice, playing cards and Harley-Davidsons. On Monday, the Wisconsin-based company said that European tariffs on its motorcycles had increased to 31 percent from 6 percent and estimated that would add about $2,200, on average, to every motorcycle exported from the United States to the bloc.
Rather than pass that cost along, the company said it would shift production to its overseas facilities to avoid the European Union tariffs.
“Harley-Davidson believes the tremendous cost increase, if passed on to its dealers and retail customers, would have an immediate and lasting detrimental impact to its business in the region, reducing customer access to Harley-Davidson products and negatively impacting the sustainability of its dealers’ businesses,” the company said in the filing.
Harley’s decision carries huge significance given Mr. Trump’s frequent championing of the Wisconsin company as an American icon and a successful American manufacturer that is creating jobs in the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Total nonsense. HD hasn’t been selling very many motos in Europe because they have ALREADY been pestered out of their markets!
Fake news!
Funny now the NYT failed to mention all the coal and steel plants opening, among others.
But when one thing shows up against the Trumpster (N: being far superior in intellect and ability than ANY journalist)) one can rest assured that the low_T journalists will choose that to report.
HD already announced months ago they were cutting back production here and opening a new plant in China. SO that is old news. Problem for them is they have made some bad motorcycles, saturation of U.S. market, and younger folks aren’t buying them.
All you have to do is scan your local newspaper and they are full of Harley’s for sale, they are in my paper.
Harley made their own problems.
HD has been planning this move for a long time. Their move has nothing to do with Tariffs.
I work with several manufacturers and none are planning to move manufacturing this soon. They want to see how it plays out.
Harley-Davidson found a good excuse to do what they’ve been wanting to do for several years. They didn’t want to do so before because it would hurt their brand. This is their ticket to try to pull it off.
These tariffs won’t last long. This is how Trump negotiates. All these nations that have a trade surplus with us have a lot more to lose. They’ll be coming to the table to negotiate.
"...So, where are Harley-Davidson motorcycles made? All over the world, actually. But those sold in America, are assembled here in the United States, using a lot of foreign made parts. "
I don't care if Harley-Davidson builds bikes overseas for overseas markets. But if they want to sell here, they should be paying a tariff for any bike or part they import.
GloBULList idiots like you are falling for it.
The trade war already existing. We just weren’t fighting back. These other countries already tax the crap out of us goods. A very likely temporary tariff is just an excuse
I owned HD for many years. Unfortunately I found that z mother Harley crap all over her current owners, being only interested in selling new bikes not maintaining either the bikes or the current owners.
This is reason #28 why I will never own another Harley.
Edit to add: every problem, of which there were many, the answer was always, that’s normal.
BS, HD sales have been declining and you don't make a major corporate decision such as this in a matter of two weeks.........This decision has been in the works for a long time.
“Harley made their own problems.”
Did they have Lucas build the electronics?
Maybe,
“HD has been planning this move for a long time. Their move has nothing to do with Tariffs.”
Current Harley riders are dying off and Millennials are not buying them as they’re considered old man’s bike. Harley needs to come up with a product spectrum that appeals to young folks.
More of your anti-American nonsense. Let me guess - you would withhold POTUS judicial nominees as well. Another Flake.
Most of their parts are already made in China so this seems like a natural progression of things.
Now, they won’t have to import their parts at all.
From 2017:Harley-Davidson sales are UP in Europe but DOWN in their homeland US of A
https://www.motofire.com/2017/02/harley-davidson-sales-europe-homeland-us/
A slap at all the Bikers For Trump?
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