Difference between revisions of "Harley-Davidson Import Tariffs"
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On three occasions after the Second World War, [[Harley-Davidson]] asked for higher import tariffs to be slapped on imported motorcycles. The first was in 1950, in response to the increasing numbers of [[British Imports|British bikes]] being sold in America. At the hearing before the US Trade Commission. Harley-Davidson's charge of unfair competition was objected to by [[Alfred Child]], who revealed Harley's then current restrictive practices towards its dealers. As a result, the application was turned down. The same thing happened in 1978 when Harley-Davidson applied for protection against Japanese imports. This time, dealers testified that the [[Aermacchi]]¬ built machines were outdated and uncompetitive against the Japanese. Only in 1983 did the company succeed in getting new tariffs, imposed on imports of over 700cc for five years: Harley had a stronger case this time, and the Ronald Reagan administration was more sympathetic to higher tariffs. In a brilliant piece of PR, Harley-Davidson was able to request that the 1983 tariff be lifted a year earlier than its five-year term. | On three occasions after the Second World War, [[Harley-Davidson]] asked for higher import tariffs to be slapped on imported motorcycles. The first was in 1950, in response to the increasing numbers of [[British Imports|British bikes]] being sold in America. At the hearing before the US Trade Commission. Harley-Davidson's charge of unfair competition was objected to by [[Alfred Child]], who revealed Harley's then current restrictive practices towards its dealers. As a result, the application was turned down. The same thing happened in 1978 when Harley-Davidson applied for protection against Japanese imports. This time, dealers testified that the [[Aermacchi]]¬ built machines were outdated and uncompetitive against the Japanese. Only in 1983 did the company succeed in getting new tariffs, imposed on imports of over 700cc for five years: Harley had a stronger case this time, and the Ronald Reagan administration was more sympathetic to higher tariffs. In a brilliant piece of PR, Harley-Davidson was able to request that the 1983 tariff be lifted a year earlier than its five-year term. | ||
[[Category:Harley-Davidson]] | [[Category:Harley-Davidson]] | ||
[[Category:Motorcycle history]] | |||