IN
THE
WIND
P34
TARIFF LEVIED ON MOTORCYCLES
I
n a move that has left many
scratching their heads,
the Office of United States
Trade Representative has
requested comments on a
December 28 regulation that
would impose a tariff of 100
percent or higher on Euro-
pean motorcycles imported
into the U.S. between 51cc
and 500cc—as part of the
European Union's mea-
sures concerning meat and
meat products in the United
States.
The AMA has recently
issued a press release op-
posing the move that would
have a serious effect on small- to medium-sized
business owners who sell the machines, resulting
in the loss of many American jobs across a range
of industries.
"The American Motorcyclist Association opposes
the proposed tariff, because trade disputes resid-
ing within the boundaries of the agricultural industry
should not be solved with trade sanctions levied
against non-agricultural products."
The proposed tariffs, the first on motorcycles
50-250cc and the second on motorcycles 250-
500cc, is suspiciously hidden at the bottom of
a giant list of products—not just animal meat for
human consumption—that are being proposed for
increased import duties.
According to the report, some of these include
"#05040000—Guts, bladders and stomachs of
animals (other than fish), whole and pieces thereof,
fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried or
smoked," and "#06042000—Foliage, branches
and other parts of plants without flowers or flower
buds, and grasses, suitable for bouquets or orna-
mental purposes, fresh."
Should the move to impose the tariff indeed be
granted, it would affect Aprilia, Beta, BMW, Ducati,
Fantic, GasGas, Husqvarna, KTM, Montesa, Piag-
gio, Scorpa, Sherco, TM and Vespa. The move
would affect not just off-road vehicle sales, both
competition and non-competition, but also scooter
and street bike sales—an area that is rather far from
what could be classified as agricultural.
"Should the availability of product be hindered
through unjustified trade sanctions on European-
produced motorcycles, dealerships may close,
leaving countless Americans without jobs," the
AMA release continues. "The negative effects of
the proposed trade sanctions will not only harm the
motorcycle sales industry, but will spread through
the aftermarket equipment sector, recreation equip-
ment sales, the sports entertainment industry and
further down the line."
If you would like to have your say in why motor-
cycles should not be mixed up in the U.S. beef
trade dispute with the European Union, you can
click this link here. https://www.regulations.gov/
comment?D=USTR-2016-0025-0001 CN
A new tariff on motorcycles
could nearly double the
price of certain-size bikes.
