The increase in import taxes resulting from the economic war between the United States and Europe continues following the decision of the American president to impose tariffs of 10% then of 25% on the aluminum produced on the Old Continent in 2018. The response from the European side was not long in coming with a + 25% increase in relative import taxes on steel and aluminum goods from the United States, including motorcycles more of 500 cc. A standoff that penalizes the motorcycle sector, including Harley-Davidson, Ducati and BMW.
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56% import taxes in June
A new prerogative taken at the end of March 2021 has just further hardened the trade conflict between the two continents.
Indeed, the European Union intends to impose a spectacular increase in its import costs to 56% from the beginning of June.
Since coming to power, Joe Biden has been trying to calm things down by trying to calm the differences between Boeing and Airbus. Europe, however, wants to speed up the lifting of customs barriers, which the United States is slow to do because of significant pressure from American industrialists. Hence the reprisals applied by European countries.
The ACEM (Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers) and its North American equivalent USMMA (United States Motorcycle Manufacturers Association) call for constructive relations between the two powers. The next decisions will surely impact the prices on the market and possibly the prices ofmotorcycle insurance.
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Harley-Davidson taken hostage
While waiting for this truce, many players in the motorcycle world are taken hostage. For Harley-Davidson, this surcharge could have an immediate impact on the prices of its products marketed in Europe.
If previously it was a question of taxing only motorcycles made in the United States, this new regulation applies to all models of the American brand.
A sledgehammer for the Milwaukee firm which had just relocated its production to Asia to circumvent these taxes.
The damage is even greater with the launch of its very first Pan América 1250 maxi-trail specially designed to meet the expectations of European bikers. However, the American manufacturer does not intend to stop there and plans to take legal action.
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