Politics

Secret Service Has Harley-Davidson Bike On Its Shopping List Despite Trump’s Boycott Message

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Evie Fordham Politics and Health Care Reporter
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The U.S. Secret Service has a Harley-Davidson police motorcycle on its shopping list, despite President Donald Trump’s recent praise for some Harley-Davidson owners’ plans to boycott the motorcycle company if it shifts production outside the U.S.

The Secret Service filed an intention to purchase the motorcycle on a federal business opportunities webpage Monday. And it is not the only federal law enforcement agency that uses Harley-Davidson — the United States Park Police, Metropolitan Police and others use the brand, reported Roll Call.

The filing requests a “Harley Davidson FLHTP Police Motorcycle, Brand Name Only, with Police Equipment Accessories.”

The Secret Service wants to replace an old motorcycle and wants the specific Harley-Davidson model to accommodate its side cars as well as to keep things simple for support technicians, according to Roll Call.

“Many [Harley-Davidson] owners plan to boycott the company if manufacturing moves overseas,” Trump tweeted on Aug. 21. “Great! Most other companies are coming in our direction, including Harley competitors. A really bad move! U.S. will soon have a level playing field, or better.”

Trump had met with nearly 200 members of New Jersey’s “Bikers For Trump” chapter at his resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Aug. 20.

The president’s message about Harley-Davidson came a day after The New York Times published a story on some Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiasts and their plans to boycott the company because they support Trump’s trade policies.

The motorcycle manufacturer said on June 24 it will move some of its production outside of the U.S. in a move driven by new European Union tariffs.

Trump has since met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who came to the U.S. to talk trade on June 26.

At the time, the EU had heightened tariffs on U.S.-manufactured items from 6 to 31 percent, meaning an increase “of approximately $2,200 per average motorcycle exported from the U.S. to the EU,” according to Harley-Davidson’s filing. (RELATED: Apple Designed Its Newest iPhones To Keep You Watching Netflix)

Harley-Davidson sold approximately 40,000 new motorcycles in Europe during 2017, making the region its “most important market” after the U.S., reported The New York Times.

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