Hours after Harley-Davidson announced they would ship some of their jobs and production to Europe as a result of Donald Trump’s reckless trade war, the president threw a tantrum on Twitter.
In a tweet, Trump said the company is just using his destructive trade policies as an “excuse” to move some of their production overseas.
“Surprised that Harley-Davidson, of all companies, would be the first to wave the White Flag,” the president said.
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! #MAGA
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2018
Trump’s tariffs are having real-world consequences
While Trump inherited a strong economy from former President Barack Obama, the Harley-Davidson news is an indicator that his own policies – particularly his disastrous trade agenda – is starting to put cracks in the rosy economic picture.
As CNN reported earlier, “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.”
The report added, “Harley-Davidson said it stood to lose as much as $100 million a year.”
The company said if it didn’t move some of its production to the EU, the tariffs would have an adverse and long-term effect on its dealers and customers.
“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,” Harley-Davidson said.
While the president is urging businesses to be “patient,” the Harley-Davidson news is likely just the beginning. The more Trump ramps up his bluster and implements his simplistic and destructive tariffs, the worse it’ll get for American companies, workers and consumers.
More companies, as a result, will likely follow in the footsteps of this iconic American brand.
As I wrote earlier this month just after Trump decided to impose penalties on $50 billion in Chinese products, it may have been good theater for Trump to show wild aggression toward America’s trade adversaries during the campaign, but the real-world consequence of his ignorant rhetoric will hurt the very people and regions of the country that supported him the most.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
