Harley-Davidson to Move Some Production From U.S. Because of E.U. Tariffs

Harley-Davidson, the American motorcycle manufacturer, said on Monday that it was shifting some of the production of its bikes outside the United States to avoid European Union tariffs imposed as part of a widening trade dispute.

The announcement, made in a public filing, is an early sign of the financial cost to companies on both sides of the Atlantic as the United States and Europe impose tariffs and counter-tariffs on each other. The moves have raised the specter of a full-blown trade war as the Trump administration pursues a protectionist tack with both allies, including the European Union, Canada and Mexico, and rivals, like China.

Last week, the European Union imposed penalties on $3.2 billion worth of American products, many of which are produced in areas that form the heart of President Trump’s political base, in response to steel and aluminum tariffs added by the White House. The list included bourbon from Kentucky, the home state of the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell; as well as orange juice, which is made largely in the swing state of Florida; and motorcycles made by Harley-Davidson, headquartered in Wisconsin, the home state of the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan.

Harley-Davidson said on Monday that European Union tariffs on its motorcycles had increased to 31 percent, from 6 percent. It estimated that the higher tariffs would add about $2,200 on average to every motorcycle exported from the United States to the bloc, so it said it would move the production of bikes bound for Europe outside the United States.