A top European lawmaker has issued a stark warning that the United States’ expanding steel tariff regime is “really harming a lot of industries,” with the motorcycle sector cited as a prime example of the collateral damage. German MEP Bernd Lange’s comments reflect a growing crisis in Europe, where an ever-growing list of “derivative” goods is being pulled into a punishing trade dispute.
The issue revolves around the US decision to apply steel tariffs not just to the raw material but to products that contain it. An initial list of 407 items, including cranes, bulldozers, and wind turbines, is already in effect. With a new US consultation underway, there are fears that this list will grow to include even more common products like windows and doors.
Lange, who chairs the European parliament’s international trade committee, shared a powerful anecdote to illustrate the chaos. He described visiting a German motorcycle factory where management could not produce a definitive paper trail for the origin of every metal component. This ambiguity leaves them vulnerable to massive penalties for inaccurate customs declarations.
To mitigate this risk, the company chooses to over-declare its steel and aluminum content, paying higher tariffs than necessary. “They declare 50% because otherwise they are in danger of getting tariffs of 200%,” Lange explained. This situation highlights the immense pressure and operational dysfunction the US policy is causing for European manufacturers.
As industry bodies like BusinessEurope decry the “turbulent” relationship with Washington, the sentiment is clear: this is no longer just about steel. It is a battle over the rules of trade, and without a clear and stable framework, countless European businesses and the jobs they provide remain at risk.