“I pulled out of a trade agreement that you liked; I slapped
a tariff on your key production inputs; the rest of the world retaliated
directly against you; and I've threatened to tax you into oblivion if you leave
… why don't you like doing business with me?”
Bob Bryan
President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on
motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson on Wednesday, laying into the company on
Twitter.
"Harley-Davidson should stay 100% in America,
with the people that got you your success," Trump tweeted. "I've done
so much for you, and then this. Other companies are coming back where they
belong! We won't forget, and neither will your customers or your now very HAPPY
competitors!"
On Monday, Harley announced that it would shift some
of its production outside of the US due to Trump's trade fight with the
European Union. Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff in steel imports to the
US had already hurt Harley's business. But the announcement of EU tariffs on
US-made motorcycles as a response to the steel tariff appears to have been the
last straw.
The company had previously announced an investment in
a Thailand-based production facility, saying it was because of Trump's decision
to withdraw the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Harley operates
facilities in Brazil, India, and Australia in addition to the Thai plant.
While Trump's policies continually hit the motorcycle
company, Harley previously enjoyed a fairly tight relationship with the
president. Executives from the company visited the White House in February 2017
and Trump continually brought up Harley as an example of a strong American
business.
That close bond was broken following Harley's
announcement, prompting Trump to go on a days-long campaign against the iconic
company.
"A Harley-Davidson should never be built in
another country-never!" Trump tweeted Tuesday. "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!"
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