U.S. Beef Industry wants 100% Tax on European Motorcycles

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  Posted by BikerNews January 19, 2017 - Filed in Motorcycle News - 1,428 views
  

  

   

  Until now the biggest problem for motorcyclists and beef was when you had to coax a cow out of the road so you could continue your ride. Well that is all changing... The US beef lobby is pushing for a substantial tax on European motorcycles imported into the US.

   

  Why? you ask. Well that is a good question with a kind of confusing answer. Apparently for the past 20 years US beef has been banned for sale in the EU because of the US meats failure to meet Europe's standards regarding the use of hormones in raising cattle for beef. In 2009 the US negotiated an agreement to open the sale of US beef in the EU if it was specifically raised to meet the EU standards, but that hasn't really worked and the sale of US beef in Europe is still basically nonexistent. I know, that still doesn't explain what that has to do with BMW, Ducati, Aprilla, Vespa and other European motorcycles being sold in the United States.

   

  Here's where the cows and the bikes colide. Some 20 years ago the World Trade Organization ruled the ban on US beef being sold in the EU "was not supported by scientific evidence and thus violated WTO obligations" resulting in the WTO allowing the US to add additional tarrifs on a list of products import to the US from Europe. Now apparently the US Beef Industry is asking the Office of United States Trade Representative to include increased tarrifs (as high as 100% of the sale price) on motorcycles imported from the European Union with an engine size between 51cc and 500cc.

   

  Affected manufacturers include Aprilla, Beta. BMW, Ducati, Fantic, Gas Gas, Husqvarna, KTM, Montesa, Piaggio, Scorpa, Sherco, TM and Vespa.

   

  The American Motorcyclist Association has spoken out about the proposed tariff, noting, ‘trade disputes residing within the boundaries of the agricultural industry should not be solved with trade sanctions levied against non-agricultural products’.

   

  “There is no logical link between motorcycles and beef,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations. “It is absurd to even consider such a move." “We urge all concerned citizens to make their views known on this issue before the Jan. 30 deadline by using the AMA tools at http://tinyurl.com/h62kpc5”