Trump’s trade policy backfires as Harley-Davidson plans Thai plant
Harley had been hailed by Trump for keeping jobs in the US, but American bike brands were dealt a blow by the decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Bangkok — Harley-Davidson, the iconic motorcycle brand hailed by US President Donald Trump for keeping jobs in America, is building a plant in Thailand, the company confirmed Thursday, as it seeks new buyers in Asia and lower tariffs. The factory — only the third Harley has built outside the US — highlights the irresistible draw of overseas plants for US manufacturers, particularly as the Trump administration castigates regional free-trade agreements. "We are expanding our presence in the Asia-Pacific market by building an assembly facility in the Rayong Province in Thailand," Harley-Davidson spokesperson Katie Whitmore told AFP. She declined to say how much the plant was worth but said it would be up and running in "late 2018". The move comes after US bike brands were dealt a blow by Trump’s decision to pull out of the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, which would have abolished tariffs on their products across 40% of the world’s economy. Trump argued TPP would...
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