USA

UK considers scrapping Trump-era tariffs on US whiskey and motorcycles

by Stefan Boscia from https://www.cityam.com The UK will review its tariffs on US products like whiskey, tobacco and motorcycles in a bid to get Joe Biden to drop Trump-era tariffs on British steel. International trade secretary Liz Truss announced today that she would launch a six-week consultation with British businesses to consider “re-balancing measures” that could see some of the tariffs scrapped. Truss said she wanted to “de-escalate trade tensions” so that the “US and UK can move forward to the next phase of their trading relationship”. The UK’s tariffs on US goods were in retaliation for Donald Trump’s Section 232 tariffs on British steel and aluminium. Trump’s White House said the trade barriers were required for national security reasons, however the policy was widely thought to be a part of the ex-president’s attempt to boost US manufacturing. “We now have the power to shape these tariffs so they reflect UK interests, and are tailored to our economy,” Truss said. “The UK will do whatever is necessary to protect our steel industry against illegal tariffs that could undermine British industry and damage our businesses. “Ultimately, however, we want to deescalate these disputes so we can move forward and work closely with the US on issues like WTO reform and tackling unfair trade practices by non-market economies.” Truss successfully got the US to agree to suspend US tariffs on Scotch whisky and other products earlier this year in a large step toward de-escalating trade tensions. City A.M. exclusively reported in March that Truss and her allies believed this milestone could provide a path to the US scrapping other Trump tariffs. Read more: Exclusive: UK to begin backdoor push to get Joe Biden to dump Trump’s steel tariffs Resolving the trade dispute with the US over steel tariffs could mark another step […]

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Motorcycle Mentorship Safety Day was hosted by the U.S. Army

from https://www.army.mil Kick off the riding season with Motorcycle Mentorship Safety Day VILSECK, Germany – Motorcycle Mentorship Safety Day was hosted by the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria Safety Office on Friday, May 14. This event consisted of morning riding drills at the Vilseck Airfield and an afternoon group mentorship ride off-post. “We are really happy that we can hold the event this year, because it was unfortunately canceled last year due to increased COVID-19 density rates in the surrounding area,” said USAG Bavaria Safety Director Deborah Gonzales. “This event brings the installation together. It promotes mentorship, and it allows people the opportunity to have safe fun.” To kick-off the event, USAG Bavaria Commander Col. Christopher Danbeck shared a few opening remarks. “Have a lot of fun, and be safe out there,” Danbeck told the attendees. “Mentorship for motorcycle riders is very important. When you go back to your organizations, please continue to watch over the younger guys. You know the real deal – how to stay safe.” He also drew the winning raffle tickets for five Harley Davidson T-Shirt prizes. Then the group received a blessing from USAG Bavaria Chaplain Col. Shawn McCammon. Before starting the hands-on drills, vehicle inspections were performed by a professional mechanic from the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, safety briefings were conducted by garrison safety officers, and course exercises were demonstrated by volunteer mentor coaches. Participants then rotated between four different stations to practice components of total stopping distance, obstacle avoidance and evasive maneuvers. After each drill, riders received additional performance feedback from the mentor coaches. A break was scheduled between the morning and afternoon sessions to allow riders an opportunity to eat lunch and refuel their motorcycles. And before departing for the 120 kilometer group ride off-post, Eschenbach Police Station Polizeihauptmeister Paul Zawal provided

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Harley-Davidson Museum News

Reopening, new exhibits, installations, programs, events and more As a part of the Harley-Davidson Museum’s phased reopening, the H-D Museum will soon expand its hours of operation. Beginning Thursday, May 6, the H-D Museum and The Shop will be open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant will also have expanded operations on Thursdays, with its hours of operation 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. And with a new installation arriving May 14, it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the expanded hours. “The Harley Fox” bike will be on view in the Custom Culture gallery. This display showcases the explosive growth of women’s riding in the 1980s and draws a direct line from those efforts to the riders of today. But don’t fret. Even if a trip to the H-D Museum isn’t in your plans just yet, our Virtual Gallery Talks, taking place Thursday evenings, aren’t going anywhere. This month, topics will include Harley-Davidson’s humble beginnings, the role H-D has played in U.S. military efforts and more. Click Here to read all the new happenings at Harley-Davidson Museum. Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Harley’s shares hit 3-year high on EU-US trade truce

by Michael Taylor from https://www.forbes.com Harley-Davidson Stock Soars As EU Decides Against 56% Tariff Surge The Harley-Davidson stock price surged this morning after the European Union deferred a tariff plan that would have seen the classic American motorcycle maker face a 56% entry ticket into the European market. Harley-Davidson Inc would have been one of the biggest losers if the tariff increase from the current 31% had gone through, though whiskey distillers and boat makers would also have taken a hit. “We are encouraged by today’s announcement that tariffs affecting our products will not escalate from 31% to 56%,” Harley-Davidson Chief Executive Jochen Zeitz said. “Harley-Davidson employees, dealers, stakeholders and motorcycles have no place in this trade war. These tariffs provide other motorcycle manufacturers with an unfair competitive advantage in the EU. “European motorcycles only pay up to 2.4% to be imported into the US. We want free and fair trade,” he said. The tariff hike was set to come into effect on June 1, but it has been shelved as both the US and the EU set about negotiations on steel and aluminum tariffs. It is estimated that the tariff would have impacted US$4 billion in exports from the US. The tariffs were initially imposed in 2018 in retaliation to a Trump administration tariff on steel (25%) and aluminum (10%), with further tariff retaliation slated to begin in June. “We did not want to be in this position,” European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said in June 2018. “However, the unilateral and unjustified decision of the U.S. to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on the EU means that we are left with no other choice.” The company may have dodged the tariff bullet, but it is still fighting on another front in Europe after having its Binding Origin Information (BOI)

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Tariff truce may spare iconic US products from huge price hikes

by Jenny Leonard from https://financialpost.com U.S. and EU Set to Reach Temporary Tariff Truce Over Metals Iconic American products affected by EU countertariffs include Harley-Davidson Inc. motorcycles, Levi Strauss & Co. jeans and bourbon whiskey. Business associations and lawmakers have asked that the U.S. lift the duties, saying they do more harm than good. The Biden administration is set to announce it’s reached a truce in a dispute with the European Union over metal tariffs, sparing iconic products such as U.S. bourbon whiskey from a doubling of EU duties next month, people familiar with the matter said. A resolution could be announced as soon as Monday, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. At issue is a high-profile dispute that started in 2018 under former President Donald Trump, in which the U.S. imposed duties on steel and aluminum from Europe, Asia and elsewhere over risks to American national security. The EU has since retaliated and on June 1 was set to double tariffs on a list of American products to 50%. Under the agreement with the Biden administration, the EU will refrain from increasing those tariffs and both sides will engage in a dialog on steel overcapacity, according to the people. The European Union had previously proposed to suspend all duties on each other’s products for six months while negotiations on a long-term solution continue. “We can only reiterate that the EU remains committed to finding a solution with the U.S. to the unduly justified tariffs on steel and aluminium and to working with the U.S. in tackling the root cause of the problem, which is the global steel overcapacity,” a spokesperson for the European Commission said on Saturday. Negotiators on both sides of the Atlantic are working to eventually remove the tariffs

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Pentagon rejects permit request by veterans group for Memorial Day motorcycle ride

by Nikki Wentling from https://www.stripes.com WASHINGTON – The Defense Department rejected a request from organizers of a traditional Memorial Day weekend motorcycle ride in the nation’s capital, throwing logistics of the event into uncertainty just weeks before it is scheduled to take place. Motorcyclists typically use the Pentagon’s parking lot as a staging area for the ride, but defense officials denied the permit application Friday for this year’s event. Officials cited the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the size of the expected crowd as the reason. Despite the denial, thousands of motorcyclists are planning to gather in Washington during Memorial Day weekend. As of Monday, organizers didn’t know where to gather the riders before and after they drive along the National Mall. AMVETS, a national veterans organization, is coordinating the motorcycle ride. The group said it was committed to still running the event on May 30 and organizers were searching Monday for a backup plan. “There are no options with as much space and convenient routes to the memorials, meaning it will be more difficult, disruptive, and expensive than if the Pentagon parking lots were available,” said Joe Chenelly, national executive director of AMVETS. The group criticized the Pentagon’s slow decision-making process. Chenelly said he applied in July to use the Pentagon parking lot on May 30. He was expecting to hear back by January. Chenelly told the Pentagon last month that he needed an answer by April 16. Officials called with their decision on Friday. “The biggest disappointment in the Pentagon’s denial was that AMVETS was ignored for months as its professional staff in Washington requested numerous times an opportunity to hear the Defense Department’s concerns and present a [coronavirus] safety plan,” Jan Brown, the national commander of AMVETS, said in a statement. AMVETS leaders said they were confident they

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ABATE 31st annual safety ride

from https://www.wgrz.com Buffalo-area motorcyclists take part in 31st annual safety ride. The American Bikers Aimed Toward Education event aims to remind all drivers that motorcyclists are back on the road. BUFFALO, N.Y. — May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, and on Saturday, 75 motorcyclists took part in the 31st annual American Bikers Aimed Toward Education safety ride. The event is aimed at reminding all drivers that motorcyclists are back on the road. There are plenty of safety tips for motorcyclists, including the obvious. “On a motorcycle, you want to make yourself visible,” Lee Argen of ABATE Buffalo said. “You always want as visible as possible. Daytime ride with your high beam lights on. A lot of times, I think people are not visible because their lights are either off or on low beam in the daytime.” Drivers should never try to share a lane with a motorcycle. Always give a motorcycle the full lane width. The one-hour event began Saturday afternoon at the Rath Building in downtown Buffalo.

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Yamaha Bolt 2021 bobber-style V-Twin cruiser

by Arun Prakash from https://www.rushlane.com 2021 Yamaha Bolt Cruiser Gets Updated With R-Spec Variant – will be offered in two paint options- Metallic Black or Grayish Blue Metallic. Yamaha boasts a wide range of motorcycles across a variety of body styles and segments in its international lineup. The international lineup of Yamaha continues to grow stronger as it has launched an updated version of Bolt in its home market. For reference, the Bolt moniker was first introduced in 2013 as a 2014 model, specifically for the US market. In its upgraded form revealed recently, the big bobber-style cruiser will only be available in the R Spec trim while the base variant has been axed from the lineup. Traditional Cruiser Styling The new 2021 Bolt R Spec rides on premium 19-inch front and 16-inch rear alloy wheels with a brushed metallic finish wrapped around by tubeless tyres. The base variant, on the other hand, was offered only wire-spoke wheels. It flaunts a retro theme styling featuring round headlamps, taillamps, circular instrument cluster and a teardrop-shaped fuel tank. The split-seat design further enhances its bobber stance. Overall, the cruiser features elegant styling which is accentuated by a beautifully styled engine taking centre stage with a polished crankcase and cooling fins. It will be offered in two colour schemes- Metallic Black or Grayish Blue Metallic. The latter also comes with understated body graphics. Hardware Setup Hardware configuration of the motorcycle is kept intact. It is built on a dual cradle frame with the front end suspended on a pair of 41mm telescopic forks. While the rear end is suspended on a set of twin gas-charged shocks with gold-coloured external reservoirs. Anchorage is handled by front and rear 298mm petal disc brakes which are assisted by dual-channel ABS. At a kerb weight of 252kg,

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American racing champion Dick Mann passes away

from https://www.roadracingworld.com Racing Legend Dick Mann passes away – from a press release issued By American Motorcyclist Association AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and Racing Legend Dick Mann Passes Mann, a two-time AMA Grand National Champion, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Dick “Bugsy” Mann, one of the most versatile racers to ever throw a leg over a motorcycle, passed away on April 26 at the age of 86. Mr. Mann, born June 13, 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah, was a two-time AMA Grand National Champion (1963 and 1971), and became best known for being the first person to achieve a motorcycle racing Grand Slam, which involved winning across all five types of circuits included in the Grand National Championship: road racing, TT, short track, half-mile and mile. When he retired from racing in 1974, Mann had 24 national victories, which — at the time — placed him second in all-time wins within the AMA Grand National Series. While Mann got his racing start in scrambles, he soon got hooked on turning left on dirt ovals, and after some time learning his trade, headed to the professional racing circuit in 1954, turning expert in 1955. He achieved his first national win at the Peoria TT in 1959, quickly establishing himself as an elite racer in the series. Mann also helped pioneer the sport of motocross in the U.S., competing in several of the early AMA professional motocross races in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Perhaps Mann’s most fulfilling national win was his victory in the 1970 Daytona 200 aboard the then-new Honda CB750. He’d been racing the Daytona 200 for 15 years and finished second three times, and in 1970 finally got to the top step of the podium, holding off rising

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JSO offers free motorcycle course to make riding safer

by Richard Nunn – The Morning Show meteorologist from https://www.news4jax.com Richard Nunn participates in SMART Motorcycle Safety Course The Weather Authority’s Richard Nunn recently participated in the new Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office SMART Motorcycle Safety Course. The course took place at the Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Training and Education Center. The acronym SMART stands for Safe Motorcycle and Rider Techniques. JSO joined together with the Florida Department of Transportation to provide the program free of cost to Jacksonville residents. Watch the video above to see some of the riding techniques that Richard learned during the course. To learn more about the program, click here. JSO offers free motorcycle course to make riding safer Classes taught by motor officers who ride for a living Florida has the second-highest number of motorcycle registrations in the nation — one spot down from California and one ahead of Texas. I am one of those registered riders and have been since my late teens. A motorcycle was my main source of transportation for a couple of years. My part-time job took me on a 60-mile round trip while attending school. All of that riding totaled 15,000-18,000 miles annually. I do not log that kind of yearly miles these days and maybe that is a good thing. With congested roads and distracted drivers in a hurry, there are too many unfortunate accidents. When those accidents involve motorcycles, serious injuries and deaths are all too common. What if there was a local course taught by professional riders that could help you improve your riding skills? What if just one of those skills could save your life? Would you invest your time to improve your riding skills? What if the course was free? I hope that last item got your attention. It’s FREE! Jacksonville is now home to the

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