The Trump administration’s trade war with Europe widened on Monday after Harley-Davidson announced it would move some manufacturing out of the US to avoid EU tariffs and Brussels prepared further retaliatory measures in case of new White House duties.
The motorcycle maker is the first US manufacturer to scale down domestic production in response to the EU tariffs, which were imposed on Friday against $3.3bn in American imports as retaliation for US steel and aluminium duties.
Harley-Davidson’s decision illustrates why many pro-trade members of President Donald Trump’s own Republican party have raised concerns about the potential economic consequences of the multiple fronts he has opened in his trade offensive.