Motorcycle Tarrifs Regan era.

[Kiwi_Roy]

The 1983 motorcycle tariff, or Memorandum on Heavyweight Motorcycle Imports, was a presidential memorandum ordering a 45% tariff on heavyweight motorcycles imported to the United States, signed by President Ronald Reagan on April 1, 1983, on the US International Trade Commission's (USITC) recommendation to approve
Apparently this was done to protect Harley Davidsons

Can anyone remember if Canada had a tariff back then on motorcycles, I see comments in an american magazine asking about the possibility of buying a Japanese bike in Canada and taking it back to USA

[hardrockminer]

This was pre-free trade.  Canada and the US operated under what was called the Auto Pact, initiated in 1965.  I don't think it covered motorcycles.  But up until what became the Free Trade Agreement around 1988 Canada had stiff tariffs on anything where we had manufacturing in the country.  We didn't make motorcycles so I don't think we had a tariff on them.

[Wheels]

The USA put tariffs on to appease Vaughn Beals and Harley
The Japanese circumvented with 700 cc bikes as they were below the tariff limit

[Twisted_Twin]

Or, because Honda has "F-you money". They built a Goldwing factory in America.

That part makes me feel all warm inside.

[Steve G.]

  Honda built the Marysville motorcycle plant in 1979 based on import tariffs broadly based along cars and motorcycles. Originally the built the Gold Wing, post sand cast CBX,  Magna series, 250 Elsinore motocross bike, and all terrain 3 and 4 wheeled machines.
  The “Harley Davidson Specific Request Action”  in 1983 was a unique 45% tariff  request , on top of current Tarrifs , to foreign motorcycles over 700cc,  progressive lower each year by 10% or so intervals, eventually requested by HD to be dropped in 1987. I remember well riding to motorcycle events in WA state on my new Kawasaki KZ750 L4. , locals down there showing up on their 700 Nighthawks, KZ700’s, etc.

  Tarrifs have been an implementation technique for 100+ yrs amongst countries. The current tariff situation is unique because among other things, the divisiveness of the character doing it. Perhaps I should give you some current tariff rates that Canada has placed upon US produced for over 36 yrs:

Dairy Products:
• Milk: 270%
• Cheese: 245%
• Butter: 298%
• Poultry: 238%
• Fish: 100%
• Tobacco: 100%
• Consumer Goods: 30%
• Lumber: 20%
• Cars: 25%
• Steel: 25%
• Aluminum: 45%
 

[Twisted_Twin]

Canada won't allow a lot of US dairy products because of all the crap in it.

Milk that doesn't go bad for months is not right.

[Steve G.]

  I will agree that is a strong reason. I’ll also point out the various “supply management “ boards here, which retain farmer financial security by means of product supply control, up to and including regulating demand of their products including destroying inventory purposely to keep demand and prices artificially high.

[rz5mark]

I remember reading an interesting story on the Harley/tariff/700cc fiasco.

It was determined that Japanese cars retail had climbed 37% over a set period of time, possibly 1975-80 ? Japanese MC had increased I believe 5%. Anyway the spread defied logic and became a very strong bargaining chip for the "dumping" argument.

I collect old MC mags and some of the adds for 1-2 year old non current bikes were crazy/ deeply discounted. Yamaha almost lost their shirt blowing out NOS bikes in 83 after trying to out sell Honda.

[hardrockminer]

If anyone cares to read the CUSMA/USMCA agreement they will discover that all three countries, Canada, USA and Mexico have a lengthy list of tariffs on their manufacturing.  The USA also heavily subsidizes their agriculture industry, which is one reason why Canada tariffs many ag products. 

I find irony in the fact that the current tariffs imposed by Trump are violations of the trade agreement he negotiated and called the greatest trade deal in history.

[Steve G.]

If anyone cares to read the CUSMA/USMCA agreement they will discover that all three countries, Canada, USA and Mexico have a lengthy list of tariffs on their manufacturing.  The USA also heavily subsidizes their agriculture industry, which is one reason why Canada tariffs many ag products. 

I find irony in the fact that the current tariffs imposed by Trump are violations of the trade agreement he negotiated and called the greatest trade deal in history.

  You are correct.