President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Harley-Davidson of using the European Union’s retaliatory tariffs on its motorcycles as an “excuse” for shifting some of its production abroad, warning that the company then would not be able to sell its bikes back to the U.S. without “paying a big tax.”
“Early this year Harley-Davidson said they would move much of their plant operations in Kansas City to Thailand. That was long before Tariffs were announced,” Trump tweeted.
“Hence, they were just using Tariffs/Trade War as an excuse. Shows how unbalanced & unfair trade is, but we will fix it.”
“We are getting other countries to reduce and eliminate tariffs and trade barriers that have been unfairly used for years against our farmers, workers, and companies. We are opening up closed markets and expanding our footprint. They must play fair or they will pay tariffs!”
“When I had Harley-Davidson officials over to the White House, I chided them about tariffs in other countries, like India, being too high. Companies are now coming back to America. Harley must know that they won’t be able to sell back into the U.S. without paying a big tax!”
CNBC reported that the Wisconsin-based motorcycle giant announced its decision to shift production of some of its bikes overseas in order to avoid the tariffs imposed by the EU in response to Trump’s.
Meanwhile, Trump in an additional tweet pointed to a study of tariffs on cars from EU countries, saying “it will all even out.”
“….We are finishing our study of Tariffs on cars from the E.U. in that they have long taken advantage of the U.S. in the form of Trade Barriers and Tariffs. In the end, it will all even out – and it won’t take very long,” Trump wrote.
Trump also warned that if Harley-Davidson shifts production abroad, it will be the “beginning of the end” for the motorcycle giant, insisting that its bikes should “never be built in another country.”
“A Harley-Davidson should never be built in another country-never! Their employees and customers are already very angry at them. If they move, watch, it will be the beginning of the end – they surrendered, they quit! The Aura will be gone and they will be taxed like never before!”
Be the first to comment