biker boy

Hope the import duties are reduced and we get the bikes at competetive price.

The news:

US, Ind to discuss lowering Harley's import duties at trade meet

NEW [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]DELHI[/COLOR][/COLOR]
: A fleet of Harley-Davidsons led his inauguration parade in Washington DC this January. So it’s only natural that US President Barack Obama wants to do his bit for the iconic American bike that’s going through a rough patch. As Harley prepares for its [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]India[/COLOR][/COLOR] debut in 2010, the Obama administration is set to take up the issue of lowering import duties again with the Indian government.

Harley-Davidson got access to India two years ago, thanks to lobbying by the Bush administration, which allowed Indian mangoes into the US as a quid pro quo. Now the US has informed India that the issue of duties will be on top of its agenda during the trade forum meeting next month. The country will be led by its trade representative Ron Kirk.

“The US department of commerce has already discussed the issue informally with us and US officials will discuss it extensively at the trade policy forum meeting in October,” a commerce department official, who did not wish to be named, told ET.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are to be sold in India through a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. According to the official, the US government wants to ensure they are priced as competitively as possible by urging India to bring down Customs duties. Import duties on completely-built units (CBUs) is 60%, in addition to 30% local [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]taxes[/COLOR][/COLOR]. With the existing duties, the market price of Harley-Davidson bikes is expected to range between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 14 lakh.

When agreeing to allow Harley-Davidsons into the country in 2007, India had said a categorical no to lowering duties. Things are, however, a little different now. “India’s position on the issue would also depend on what else is on the table. Things would unfold once the trade policy forum discussions take place,” the official says.

The Milwaukee-based company, which announced in September that in addition to 1,000 job cuts, there will be layoffs in southeastern Wisconsin and a two-month [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]holiday[/COLOR][/COLOR] shutdown at its Buell motorbike plant in East Troy, is banking a lot on India. It hopes the country will overtake Japan—where it sold 14,654 bikes last year—and emerge as its biggest market in Asia in the next decade.

Source: US, Ind to discuss lowering Harley's import duties at trade meet- Foreign Trade-Economy-News-The Economic Times

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tanay

So if the import duties get lowered on Harleys then it'll be applicable on ALL imported bikes right? I mean, lowering duties for a specific company would amount to unfair trade practices or something like that.

Here's to 7-8 Lakh R1's!
EDIT : I wouldn't mind them being even cheaper

Samarth 619

Of course, that won't happen! One can't favour a company like that. And anyway, the article says "lowering the custom duties", without any company/ country suffixed ...

But yes, it might be country specific. So, US might enjoy lower duties after this discussion.

Come on India, Maan jao! BTW, Buell 1125R ain't a bad bike?! What say guys?

moeed

Why doesn't the government remove the import duties?

Wolfpack

Well Its quite simple..They want to encourage indigenous products in India..

moeed

Bro, no one is manufacturing a sbk here. So what's the use of these duties?

Wheel_Spin

Removing all of the duties will encourage the manufacturers to just import the bikes and sell them. No money for the country no employment for the people either. No +ves for the country if you look at the larger picture.

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ashes

ur correct!!

right know india is importing more than exporting(overall) because of the recession and i dont think they will reduce the duties and increase more imports.

rather they should increase the duty to discourage importing and encourage manufacturing in India. (just my thoughts)

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