As I See It
Walker waits to back Harley Davidson
It is a delicate dance that Governor Walker is performing over the President’s threats toward an iconic Wisconsin company. President Trump has singled out Harley Davidson as he continues to impose tarrifs on a variety of imported products. The European Union has raised the stakes in the ongoing trade war by imposing tariffs on Harley Davidson motorcycles made in the U.S. but sold overseas. Harley has responded by indicating it will move production of motorcycles sold in Europe overseas. President Trump has responded by threatening to raise taxes on Harley, and has even called for motorcycle enthusiasts to boycott the Milwaukee based company. It is unfortunate that the President has singled out this company, and perhaps unprecedented that he is calling for American consumers to boycott an American made product. Governor Walker remained silent on the tiff, until finally issuing a tweet saying he doesn’t want a boycott. But he went on to suggest Trump is right that the trade war will eventually lead to no tariffs on any products. To be fair, Trump painted Walker into a corner. But Walker should have been more quick to respond, and more forceful in his disagreement with the President. We should not criticize any American company that sells fine products that people like. To do so is simply not very American.