The 100% tariff proposed for scooters and dirt bikes from Europe in retaliation for the EU’s decade-long ban on growth hormone-injected U.S. beef might sound just a little desperate and crazy. OK, a lot desperate and crazy. But that’s exactly what U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Susan Schwab has in mind as she heads out the door. The proposed 100% tax is aimed at all motorcycles and scooters sourced from Europe and powered by 51-500cc engines. For scooters, the tariff primarily will hit Piaggio, Vespa and Aprilia (the Piaggio Group).

Crazy and desperate regulation can happen when an unpopular President wants to leave his mark on his way out. We don’t like to mix politics with maxiscooters at ScooterMaxi.com, but it is unavoidable when trying to understand something so unexplainable. The outgoing President not only has been tight with the cattlemen, but probably is none-too-impressed with the gas savings offered by scooters. At a time when the U.S. economy is reeling, this Death Penalty Tariff aims directly at poking a huge hole in one our few economic bright spots – rapidly rising scooter sales.

With the Piaggio Group just about ready to deliver 140 mpg gas-hybrid (HyS) maxiscooters to U.S. shores, the timing of the proposed 100% tariff is especially suspicious. Of course, Piaggio Group has the capacity to shift its production for U.S. consumers to Asia or elsewhere - and avoid the tariff. Still, the proposal has drawn the ire of Piaggio Group Americas President / CEO Paolo Timoni and Ed Moreland of the American Motorcycle Association – both widely circulating their sharp critiques.

A simple solution seems quite likely. The new Administration will be reviewing all the hastily arranged recent regulations and edicts, and you can be sure that any undue favoritism toward the cattlemen and Big Oil will be nixed. In fact, the new Cabinet features a strong emphasis on green business and conservation with nominations such as Energy Secretary-designate Steven Chu. Look for USTR-designate Ron Kirk to halt the proposed EU scooter tariff.