Attention All KTM Motorcycle Dealers:
I’m writing to update you on the Office of the US Trade Representative’s (“USTR”) proposed import duties on motorcycles from Europe.
The USTR public hearing was held on February 15, 2017. The hearing was chaired by William Busis, the Associate General Counsel at USTR, and included representatives from the Departments of Labor, State, Treasury, Agriculture, and Commerce, as well as from Customs and Border Protection and the Small Business Administration (the “Committee”). We coordinated a panel of motorcycle industry representatives to appear at the hearing that included the following members:
- Rick Alcon, R&S Powersports
- Tim Buche, Motorcycle Industry Council
- Tim Cotter, MX Sports
- Mario Di Maria, Piaggio Group Americas
- Rob Dingman, American Motorcyclist Association
- Carroll Gittere, Powersports Data Solutions
- John Hinz, KTM North America and Husqvarna Motorcycles North America
- Iain McPhie, Squire Patton Boggs
The motorcycle panel representatives submitted comments to the Committee regarding the potential impacts that the tariffs would have on the motorcycle industry, dealerships, and associated businesses. The panel then answered questions from the Committee that were designed to clarify or elicit further information about our written comments and hearing statements. The hearing was very positive, and the Committee was very receptive to the comments provided by the motorcycle panel and fully understood the impact that the tariffs could potentially cause our industry.
We have been fully engaged in political outreach both in the United States and in Europe with the motorcycle industry to update Congressional members and government officials on the tariff and the impact on our industry. We have asked Members of the U.S. Congress to contact Mr. Busis at USTR to notify him that motorcycles should be removed from the list of products subject to potential tariffs. Our next step is to prepare written rebuttal comments to USTR regarding questions and comments asked at the hearing by the March 8, 2017 deadline.
Please continue to contact your representatives in Congress to oppose the proposed actions against motorcycles. You can find your representatives and their contact information at the links below. Please complete the attached letter and ask your representatives in Congress for their support on this issue.
- http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
- http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Best regards,
JOHN HINZ
KTM North America, Inc.
38429 Innovation Court
Murrieta, CA 92563
www.ktm.com
T: 951-600-8007 x.4110
F: 951-600-8866
E: jhinz@ktmnorthamerica.com