Cheaper Harley-Davidson Bikes: India’s Decision To Slash Import Tariffs On Motorcycles Praised By Trump

Speaking at a White House event, US President Donald Trump yesterday (24 January) welcomed India’s decision to reduce the import tariff on motorcycles by half, reports The New Indian Express.

He though was critical of India’s continuing high duty on American whiskey.

Trump made the statement while discussing the Reciprocal Trade Act, showing examples of non-reciprocal tariffs on a green board.

"Look at motorcycles as an example. (In) India, it was 100 per cent. I got them down to 50 per cent, just by talking for about two minutes. It's still 50 per cent vs 2.4 per cent (on imported motorcycles to the US). Again, other than that, it's a very fair deal," he stated.

Trump though lamented on how India charging a 150 per cent duty on whiskey while the US government doesn’t put any tax on imported liquor.

The American president had previously threatened to go on a retaliatory trade offensive against India after alleging that India’s tariffs on American motorcycles was ‘unfair’. India responded by cutting down the customs duty in February, benefiting American companies like Harley-Davidson.

Referring to the Reciprocal Trade Act, Trump stated that it would enable American workers to compete on a fair and level-playing field against other nations.

He reiterated his assertion that a number of countries had been taking advantage of the US.

"They charge us tariffs and taxes, the likes of which nobody has any understanding. They're so high and so unfair! They also have barriers where we can't go in. They have trade barriers that make it impossible for us to sell our farm products and our other products,” Trump pointed out.