The entire affair started on Monday after the bike builder said the increased tariffs for American bikes sold in the EU would mean the price for the motorcycles would have to jumpo by $2,200. Since it doesn’t want that, it decided to move production of motorcycles for EU destinations from the US to its international facilities.
Trump responded quite candidly, asking for patience and only marginally accusing the company of using the tariffs as an excuse to cover already-made decision. Last night, Trump did the math in his sleep and woke up on the wrong side of the bed, letting loose the dogs of Twitter.
First, he goes on by saying Harley decided on the cuts in Kansas City and relocation to Thailand long before tariffs were announced, hence the excuse part we mentioned earlier.
Then he goes on mildly threatening that should it move production abroad, Harley will not be able to sell 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. Hence, they were just using Tariffs/Trade War as an excuse. Shows how unbalanced & unfair trade is, but we will fix it.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 26 iunie 2018
At the very end, using written shouting, he warns Harley-Davidson they will be taxed like never before.....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 U.S. without paying a big tax!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 26 iunie 2018
The entire rant can be seen in the embedded tweets. What’s not embedded is another threat made by Trump (he mixes tweets about H-D, the EU and borders stuff so badly that it’s nearly impossible to keep track) who said cars from the EU are next to be hit by increased tariffs, as “In the end it will all even out - and it won’t take very long!”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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 26 iunie 2018