Business Insider reports:
President Donald Trump late Monday went after iconic American motorcycle company Harley-Davidson after the company announced it was moving some production out of the US. Harley announced Monday that due to the European Union’s new tariffs on US motorcycles — which came in retaliation for Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs — the company was shifting some production to non-US plants.
The Harley move represented a slap in the face for Trump. The president hosted company executives at the White House and has repeatedly praised the company for building its motorcycles in America. According to the company, the EU’s new tariffs will increase the cost of a motorcycle shipped from the US to Europe by $2,200. To avoid this cost, the country will shift to countries where there are lower or no tariffs. Harley currently maintains facilities in Australia, Brazil, India, and Thailand.
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
Hurting from low sales and Trump tariffs, Harley Davidson will close its Kansas City plant https://t.co/h22NszVdvy via @thinkprogress
— I.am.Sam (@SamScrogg) June 25, 2018
Guess why Harley-Davidson had to move out of the US and shift production to Europe? To avoid the tariffs this bozo Trump made the EU put on us because of his dumb trade wars.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) June 25, 2018
Trump accused Harley Davidson of waving the white flag because they moved production overseas to avoid the tariff retaliation.
President Bone Spur accusing people of waving the white flag…
Can’t make this shit up.— Brian O’Sullivan (@osullivanauthor) June 25, 2018
Ever since criminal con-man Trump lied and made Harley-Davidson the poster-company for bringing jobs back to America, the iconic motorcycle maker has lost over a quarter of its value — proving once again, everything Trump touches turns to sh*t. $HOG
— Bill Madden (@activist360) June 25, 2018
One telling thing about Harley-Davidson’s decision today is that they’re willing to spend money and 18 months moving their production abroad. They clearly don’t see Trump’s trade war as a short blip.
— Jordan Weissmann (@JHWeissmann) June 25, 2018
“I fought hard for them and ultimately they will not pay tariffs” Trump says of Harley Davidson.
Fact check: Harley is already paying the tariffs Trump says it won’t pay. 31%, or 5 times more than the 6% tariffs Harley was paying before Trump “fought hard for them.” https://t.co/RqZ5mofRqg
— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) June 25, 2018