Posted: 23 April 2019 at 8:15am | IP Logged | 6
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So Trump introduced tariffs on aluminum and steel in January 2018, which he extended to include the EU in June of last year. Economists said it would hurt the US economy, but Trump said he loved tariffs and they were great.
A few weeks after the tariffs expanded to include the EU, the EU responded in kind by introducing its own tariffs on US products. Among the affected goods were bikes made by Harley Davison. Harley Davison decided to move production outside the US to avoid the tariffs. At the time, Trump accused Harley Davison of using the EU tariffs as an excuse to move production overseas.
This is what he tweeted at the time: "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!"
He then went on to threaten Harley Davison with extra taxes, writing :
"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!"
Then in August, he said that plans for customers to boycott Harley Davison were 'great'.
Harley Davison has now announced a 27% drop in profit and said that US tariffs on raw materials have contributed to higher costs for the company.
So what is Trump's take on this now? His tweet today:
"Harley Davidson has struggled with Tariffs with the EU, currently paying 31%. They’ve had to move production overseas to try and offset some of that Tariff that they’ve been hit with which will rise to 66% in June of 2021.” @MariaBartiromo So unfair to U.S. We will Reciprocate!"
Selective memory?
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