U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited his criticism of India’s trade policies, particularly targeting the country’s steep import tariffs on American motorcycles.
“Harley-Davidson couldn’t sell in India because of the 200% tariff on motorcycles,” Trump said in his latest remarks, pointing to what he described as unfair trade practices. He noted that the iconic American brand eventually bypassed the steep duties by setting up a motorcycle plant within India. “Now they don’t have to pay tariffs,” he added.
Trump has long accused India of imposing “unacceptable” barriers on U.S. exports, with the Harley-Davidson issue often serving as a flashpoint in bilateral trade talks during his presidency.
Harley-Davidson, which entered India in 2009, initially struggled due to high prices driven by tariffs. The company opened a local assembly unit in Haryana in 2011 to sidestep the import duties. Despite this, the brand faced limited demand and announced in 2020 that it would scale down operations, continuing in India only through partnerships.
Trump’s latest remarks once again spotlight India’s restrictive trade measures, even as the U.S. and India work to strengthen economic and strategic cooperation.
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