Trade War Watch: It's Okay to Feel a Little Sorry for Harley-Davidson

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Last summer, the European Union imposed an additional 25-percent import duty on top of the existing 6-percent tariff levied on large motorcycles. Established as a response to the United States’ duties on steel and aluminum, the move crippled Harley-Davidson’s ability to thrive in the European market — a region that accounts for about one-sixth of its global volume.

While much of the media is focused on framing Donald Trump for Harley’s plight, the situation is a little more complicated. The president’s tariffs did indeed spur the EU’s retaliatory fees, but it was Europe that decided to place its crosshairs upon the iconically American motorcycle brand.

We’re not really interested in who fired the first shot, and not just because we’ll never be able to declare a winner that satisfies everyone. Harley-Davidson faces real problems because of the trade war and we’ve been treating it as the canary in the coal mine. Thanks to slimmer margins, motorcycle manufacturers are more susceptible to economic changes than their automotive counterparts — making them a rather effective barometer.

Harley-Davidson reported lackluster first-quarter profits on Tuesday, though Bloomberg claims the results surpassed analysts’ expectations. That still meant the company’s adjusted net income for Q1 fell 26 percent, however. Excluding restructuring costs, tariffs and other money eaters, HD posted earnings of 98 cents a share — beating the average estimate of 85 cents.

The good news runs out here, as HD said it will likely have to move more production out of the U.S. Trump has already come down on the company for its overseas manufacturing, something it did to help mitigate manufacturing costs and boost overseas volume (primarily in Asia). However, the tariff-related decision clearly irked him more than usual, with the president suggesting the company effectively “waved the white flag.”

Now, he’s changed is tune, if only by a bit. In a tweet issued Tuesday, President Trump accused the EU of bullying the company with tariffs by quoting Fox News pundit Maria Bartiromo.

“‘Harley Davidson has struggled with Tariffs with the EU, currently paying 31 [percent]. They’ve had to move production overseas to try and offset some of that Tariff that they’ve been hit with which will rise to 66 [percent] in June of 2021.’ @MariaBartiromo So unfair to U.S. We will Reciprocate!”

It’s a little strange seeing the president come to the company’s defense; it could be a sign that these salvoes of targeted tariffs are getting out of hand (and are nowhere near over). Meanwhile, HD finds itself caught in the middle of a political feud with little recourse. If it doesn’t build in Europe, its product will be taxed into oblivion. Don’t take our word for it — the company said as much in 2018.

“Increasing international production to alleviate the EU tariff burden is not the company’s preference, but represents the only sustainable option to make its motorcycles accessible to customers in the EU and maintain a viable business in Europe,” Harley-Davidson explained last June.

Even though the company’s woes extend far beyond the issue of tariffs (its main customer base is literally dying out), it’s one of the biggest problems it has to contend with right now. This has forced it to focus nearly all of its efforts on managing its supply chains and factory placement, rather than developing new products and effective marketing campaigns that could potentially help rekindle interest in the brand. You don’t need much of an imagination to craft a scenario where the trade war continues to escalate — and automobile tariffs continue to rise — to a point where every manufacturer plays it safe and boring in a period where sale growth is already stagnating.

[Image: Harley-Davidson]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • TomLU86 TomLU86 on Apr 24, 2019

    @goldenhusky, I never thought of a Harley like that, great insight. I would actually like to buy a "new" 1971 Chevelle, and if I could for $24k, I would. ...but what I really want is a "new" 1986 VW Golf GTI. I'd rather pay $25,000 for a NEW one of those, than the current GTI (admittedly, the current car is objectively superior, no argument. But I like the old, simpler car, it works for me, thank you).

  • -Nate -Nate on Apr 24, 2019

    Very interesting thread . I'm a Baby Boomer who's old and fat , never had a heart attack nor food stamps, unemployment, a car loan or the rest of the crap so many dig deep holes to get for that I don't know . My Son is 41Y.O. and a rabid trump supporter, thinks vaccines will kill him (?! WTH ?!) and is stock piling guns although he thinks the Bible is B.S..... Neither of us will fit the holes most here want to put us into . I fondly remember both my 1965 Harley 74" PanHead and my 1937 EL 61" KunckleHead, both were rebuilt by me from the wheels up and gave good service in spite of being old fashioned, heavy, ponderous and so on . The PanHead wasn't a good mountain bike, the KnuckleHead I rode fast and hard in Guatemala and loved most of it, it was comfy over _very_ bad roads, the original triple spring leaver saddle gave good support . The foot clutch and tank shifter wasn't much fun on greasy cobble stones when going up hills in the rain at night.... It wasn't very heavy feeling, unlike my PanHead, that weighed 800# stripped down . I hope America can still support at least _one_ Motocycle company . -Nate

    • -Nate -Nate on Apr 25, 2019

      Oh yeah ; In addition to being old, I'm *very* Conservative and proudly so . I'm not fond of the P.O.T.U.S. but I won't be surprised one bit when he wins the next election . The DNC has been grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory for some time, now, if they don't wise up they don't deserve to win . -Nate

  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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