Motorcycles are caught in the crossfire of an international trade policy standoff. The dispute, which involves the Office of United States Trade Representative and European Union, stems from ongoing disagreements over meat products. During the late Nineties, the World Trade Organization requested the E.U. lift its standing ban on U.S. beef; the E.U. declined, citing the meat’s failure to meet European health and hormone standards. In 2009, the U.S. negotiated a pact allowing some beef market access; according to the White House, the agreement “has not worked as intended.”

As a result, the U.S.T.R. is now considering a new petition from the U.S. beef lobby, invoked last December under a revised clause in the 1974 Trade Act. This would create a “retaliation list” of foreign products, which are subject to heavy import tariffs, to balance the export losses. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. beef lobby’s list consists largely of meat and animal parts. But it also includes a scattershot of other items, like chewing gum, electric hair clippers, and motorcycles.

Two vehicular tariffs are proposed on the new retaliation list. One is for European bikes between 51cc and 250cc; the other, European bikes between 251cc to 500cc. Both would be subject to an import tax of 100 percent (or more). This would directly impact fifteen European manufacturers, including major brands like Aprilla, BMW, Ducati, Husqvarna, KTM, Piaggio, and Vespa.