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According to thePrint.in online, President Trump has criticized India several times for their high duties on Harley Davidson motorcycles. As recently as last June, President Trump has told Indian Prime Minister Modi the import duties were unacceptable.

Harley Davidson’s first entered the Indian market in 2007 in exchange for lifting a ban on Indian mango exports to the US (the “Mango” deal). However, in 2018, India incread the duties on “completely knocked down units” of Harley Davidson’s that are shipped to India for assembly. The 13 knocked down units are the lower priced models and are the majority of Harley Davidson motorcycles sold in India.

While Harley Davidson only sells about 2,500 bikes in India per year, President Trump views Harley Davidson and the brand as the “pride of the United States”, which also makes the brand an easy target for foreign governments to irritate the President.

President Trump likely supports Harley Davidson for multiple reasons: (1) the brand is popular among Trump’s voters in the midwest and Southern US, (2) Bikers for Trump is a group of motorcycle riders who also mostly ride Harley Davidson’s and (3) Harley Davidson’s headquarters is in Wisconsin – a Republican state that Trump needs for support in 2020.

Time will tell what products Trump will increase tariffs in retaliation. If you have any questions about duty rates or want to save duties on imports, contact experienced trade attorney David Hsu at 832-896-6288 or by email at dh@gjatradelaw.com, attorney.dave@yahoo.com.