In the newest trade war between the EU and the USA, motorcycle parts are on the list of products that will have extra customs duties up to 100% if European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström gets her way. Parts for US brands motorcycles may become much more expensive.

End March 2019 the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled that the USA had given benefits to their airplane industry (Boeing), with an estimated damage to the EU airplane industry (Airbus) of $12 billion. The EU now considers counter measures to the USA for the same sum and has published a list with products that will be charged with extra custom duties up to 100%.

The list contains (amongst many others) the next products:

• 87141010 brakes and parts thereof, of motorcycles “incl. mopeds”
• 87141020 gear boxes and parts thereof, of motorcycles “incl. mopeds”
• 87141030 road wheels and parts and accessories thereof, of motorcycles “incl. mopeds”
• 87141040 silencers “mufflers” and exhaust pipes, and their parts, of motorcycles “incl. mopeds”
• 87141050 clutches and parts thereof, of motorcycles “incl. mopeds”
• 87141090 parts and accessories of motorcycles, incl. mopeds, n.e.s. (excl. brakes, gear boxes, road wheels, silencers, exhaust pipes, clutches, and their parts)

The European Commission has started a public consultation which ends 31 May 2019, 12:00 am (UTC+01:00).

As with earlier occasions, FEMA has the position that trade wars should not be fought at the expense of motorcyclists and those who are working in the motorcycle branch. In this particular case there are enough possibilities to charge other products in the aircraft branch with extra customs. As before, we will inform Commissioner Malmström of our position and demand that motorcycle parts will be stricken of the list.

Comment of Dolf Willigers, FEMA General Secretary: “Again the European Commission involves the motorcyclists in their disputes with the US administration. We have no part in this and we see no reason why European motorcyclists and people working in the motorcycle trade should be punished in a dispute about support to the aircraft industry. Owners of US brand motorcycles have no choice when they have to replace parts of their motorcycle and will this way be forced to pay a much higher price. This measure really goes beyond all limits”.