President Trump expressed his disappointment Monday with the news that renowned motorcycle company Harley-Davidson would be shifting some of their production outside of the United States.
The company made the announcement on Monday, citing the burden of the retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. enacted by the European Union on Friday in response to the Trump administration’s tariffs on European aluminum and steel imports.
“Surprised that Harley-Davidson, of all companies, would be the first to wave the White Flag,” the president tweeted. “I fought hard for them and ultimately they will not pay tariffs selling into the E.U., which has hurt us badly on trade, down $151 Billion. Taxes just a Harley excuse – be patient!”
[Trump warns Harley-Davidson: Moving offshore is the ‘beginning of the end’]
Surprised that Harley-Davidson, of all companies, would be the first to wave the White Flag. I fought hard for them and ultimately they will not pay tariffs selling into the E.U., which has hurt us badly on trade, down $151 Billion. Taxes just a Harley excuse – be patient! #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2018
Harley-Davidson said it stood to lose up to $100 million in a year from the tariffs, as the bloc had pushed the tariffs on motorcycles up from 6 percent to 31 percent. According to the company, that percentage increase would cost Harley-Davidson $2,200 more per bike to import to Europe, the second-largest market in the world.
“Increasing international production to alleviate the EU tariff burden is not the company’s preference, but represents the only sustainable option,” the company said in a regulatory filing.
