Even after Harley Davidson became the first American company "to wave the white flag" and announce, in an 8-K filing, that it planned to move some production offshore to compensate for EU tariffs, the workers at the Harley Davidson plant in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin are standing by their president even though the Financial Times reports that "they could end up as collateral damage."
Surprised that Harley-Davidson, of all companies, would be the first to wave the White Flag. I fought hard for them and ultimately they will not pay tariffs selling into the E.U., which has hurt us badly on trade, down $151 Billion. Taxes just a Harley excuse - be patient! #MAGA
The company said Monday that it would increase production at its facilities in India, Brazil and Thailand to avoid paying some $100 million - or roughly $2,000 per bike - in tariffs to the EU.
But this decision hasn't translated into worker anger directed at the president. An informal survey of workers during a smoke break at the factory by the FT found that most - if not all - support President Trump's bid to revive American manufacturing by instigating a trade fight, even if Harley's EU sales have risen as a percentage of the company's overall sales in recent years.
What's more, several workers appear to agree with President Trump's assessment that the company's decision to move production is "just a Harley excuse" after Harley closed its plant in Kansas City. In other words, the company is taking advantage of the EU tariffs, and opportunistically "blaming it on Trump."
Mark, another Harley worker sitting astride his motorbike during the afternoon shift change at this plant that employs about 1,000 workers, said: "I think Harley is just using it as an excuse" to move more production overseas, after a recent decision to close the company’s Kansas City plant. "They will just blame it on Trump."
Asked by the FT whether they blame Trump for Harley's offshoring decision, most workers said they only blamed the EU, and that, regardless of the fallout, it wouldn't change their vote.
Asked whether they blame the president or the EU for causing Harley’s offshoring decision, most say emphatically that they blame only the Europeans. "The president was just trying to save the US aluminum and steel industry," one said approvingly.
Harley-Davidson said on Monday that it maintained a "strong commitment to US-based manufacturing," but that its facilities in India, Brazil and Thailand would increase production to avoid paying the EU tariffs that would have cost it as much as $100m.
When asked whether the latest news could make him vote against Mr Trump if he runs for a second term in...