As is typical with the US government starts to get tight, they seem to shoot from the hip. Apparently someone high up the political food chain doesn't like European motorcycles. It has been recommended to President Bush that the US government institute a 100% tariff on all European motorcycles and scooters with 500 cc displacement engines and smaller.Why? According to the Sport Rider website, it is apparently in retaliation to the European Union's continuing import ban on American beef from cattle that have been treated with growth hormones. Does that make sense? They don't want our beef, so we tariff the hell out of certain motorcycles?
This tariff would include bikes from manufacturers like BMW, Aprilia, KTM, Husaberg, Piaggio, Husqvarna, Montesa, Scorpa, Sherco and Vespa.
Ed Moreland, the American Motorcycle Association's VP for government relations penned a very sharp statement against this sanction. The entire article, Mr. Moreland's letter included, can be read by following the link above to the Sport Rider website.
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2 comments:
It's not that we don't want US beef, we don't and won't have any beef from any country that has growth hormones.
motorman,
I am 100% with you. I was admittedly generalizing US beef production. Not ALL farmers use hormones, just the majority. Personally I am all for 'Natural' food, grown out in the open without unnecessary hormones or antibiotics.
I completely support and agree with your (the EU's) desire to not import beef that had hormones injected. I just find it completely out of place for the US to 'punish' another country or possibly disrupt a good economic relationship because the other country doesn't want something imported that has a questionable health value.
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