Donald Trump again taken aim at India tariffs on Harley Davidson motorcycles
According to sources the 50% duty on Harley Davidson bikes imported into india is “unacceptable”, Trump said on Monday when he phoned into a popular business TV program. He said that he had spoken to modi about the 100% tariff that india had been charging on the bike and “he reduced it by 50% with one phone call. I said it’s still unacceptable because it is 50 per cent versus nothing. It’s still unacceptable. And they’re working on it”.
Trump and modi are expected to meet in Osaka, japan, during the G-20 Summit on June 28 and 29. Defending his worldwide tariff war strategy, Trump reverted back to the Harley Davidson motorcycle an icon for a large segment of his voter base during his call to CNBC’s Squawk Box program just as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is preparing an economy-themed visit to New delhi.
Recalling his Harley Davidson episode, the US President said: “You look at india, a very good friend of mine, Prime Minister modi, you take a look at what they have done, 100% tax on a motorcycle. When they send it, they make a tremendous number of motorcycles. When they send them, no tax”. Trump said that with one phone call to modi, he had the customs duties cut to 50% on the bikes.