Harley-Davidson Begins Kansas City Plant Shutdown As Production Shifts To Thailand
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
Fri, 08/03/2018
Harley Davidson has begun shutting down its Kansas City, MO motorcycle plant as the firm shifts production to Thailand to avoid stiff EU tariffs in response to steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
Around 180 workers will clock out for the last time at the Missouri factory which has operated for over two decades, while additional staff will remain until next year to continue making motorcycles until the facility is completely closed. Meanwhile, the motorcycle builder will also shift the manufacture of three models currently made in Kansas City to their state-of-the art factory in Pennsylvania.
In total, 800 Missouri employees will lose their jobs, while their York, PA factory will gain 450 workers.
In response to Harley’s move, President Trump in June called it “the beginning of the end” for the company, and blamed the motorcycle company for “waving the white flag” by using the trade war as an excuse to move production.
Trump then warned the company that it would pay a big tax to sell back into the US: “when I had Harley-Davidson officials over to the White House, I chided them about tariffs in other countries, like India, being too high. Companies are now coming back to America. Harley must know that they won’t be able to sell back into U.S. without paying a big tax!”
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