“President Donald Trump’s trade policy is backfiring on Harley-Davidson,” as CNN and other media are reporting.
“The company is shifting some production of motorcycles for European customers out of the United States to avoid EU retaliatory tariffs.
“Harley-Davidson’s move is some of the most direct evidence yet that tit-for-tat trade fights between the United States and other countries have consequences for American companies. Harley-Davidson said it stood to lose as much as $100 million a year.
“‘Increasing international production to alleviate the EU tariff burden is not the company’s preference, but represents the only sustainable option,’ Harley-Davidson said in a regulatory filing on Monday.
“The EU began imposing tariffs Friday on $3.2 billion worth of American goods, including motorcycles, orange juice, bourbon, peanut butter, motorboats, cigarettes and denim. They are a response to the Trump administration’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Europe.
“For motorcycles, the EU raised its 6% tariff to 31%. That will make each bike about $2,200 more expensive to export, Harley said.
“Harley is not raising bike prices for customers or retailers.
“‘The tremendous cost increase, if passed onto its dealers and retail customers, would have an immediate and lasting detrimental impact to its business in the region,’ the company said.
“Instead, it will eat $30 million to $45 million for the rest of this year and $90 to $100 million annually.
“The company did not say whether any jobs are at risk. Harley-Davidson, based in Milwaukee, employs more than 6,000 people globally. Spokesperson Michael Pflughoeft said the company was ‘assessing the potential impact’ on jobs.
The rest of the article is here.
Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report 
Wait, didn’t Trump say he was going to bring jobs back to the US? Oh yeah, just like he said we are all going to have great health care at cheap prices and he alone could fix America’s problems. MAGA baby!
Not to mention his saving Carrier Corp. Which went ahead with their original plan after getting a tax gift from Trump.
This would be funny, except that I think Todd really believes this: “Todd Juvinall June 25, 2018 at 1:46 PM
Maxine, Willer, Pelline, all cut from the same stain of DNA.” I’ve concluded that Todd has some issues he needs to work out with himself. A good first step would be to put away his keyboard and go for a walk in the forest. Or maybe a swim in the river. Singing in a choir might be a good “mid recovery” step. You know, collaborating. LOL.
Even the conservative editorial board of the Wall Street Journal is shaking its head over Trump’s “policies”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-rides-a-harleyto-europe-1529968178?mod=hp_opin_pos1
Went to B & C Hardware today to look at “hog wire” fencing. Was told to buy it today or tomorrow as all their steel is going up 16%.