European motorcycle lobby hits back at Trump and his tariffs

The European motorcycle industry has slammed the new EU-US Framework Agreement, warning that the deal leaves European manufacturers facing crippling tariffs when exporting bikes across the Atlantic.

The agreement, signed on August 21, was supposed to smooth out long-running trade disputes. Instead, ACEM (the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers) says the pact falls “significantly short” of what’s needed, and risks hammering both European firms and the jobs they support.

Tariffs turn the screws

Under the new rules, European-made motorcycles exported to the US are now subject to a 15 per cent general tariff, with a further 50 per cent tariff slapped on their steel content. Considering that steel is rather fundamental to motorcycle construction, the industry argues that this makes many exports economically unviable.

What was hoped to be a pathway toward fairer trade is, according to ACEM, nothing more than a half-baked framework that leaves European bikes at a severe disadvantage compared to US-built machines. The worry is that such a lopsided arrangement will undermine decades of transatlantic motorcycle trade and cooperation.

It also doesn’t take into account that riders on both sides of the Atlantic don’t necessarily always want to own an American bike. There, I said it.

The agreement does mention future discussions on Tariff-Rate Quotas for steel, aluminium and other key materials. But ACEM stresses that vague promises aren’t enough – manufacturers need clear timelines and hard outcomes. Until then, they argue, the ongoing uncertainty will stifle competitiveness and make it harder for European brands to plan production and investment.

Speaking about the situation, the ACEM Secretary General, Antonio Perlot, didn’t mince his words:

“While we acknowledge the Commission’s efforts, this Framework Agreement, as it stands, represents a deeply inadequate response to the challenges facing European industry. On top of the 15% tariff for general products, the newly introduced 50% tariffs on steel content render much of the agreement’s benefits meaningless for motorcycle manufacturers. We cannot accept a situation where European companies remain at a severe competitive disadvantage due to incomplete negotiations.”

The ball is now firmly in the court of EU and US negotiators. ACEM says it will continue to push for a “balanced, negotiated solution” that restores fair competition and mutual access to markets. Until then, much-loved European bikes may find it tougher (read that as ‘more expensive’) to find a new home stateside.

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