Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. Trade Representative, has told a congressional committee that while he is “sympathetic” to American motorcyclists, dealerships and others in the “Beef for Bikes” controversy, he will not, at this stage, intervene and remove small displacement European motorcycles from a proposed import tariff on motorcycles of 500cc and less while negotiations continue in a dispute with the European Union over U.S. beef imports.
America’s top Ohlins suspension dealer Daniel Laine Kyle of Carmel-by-the-sea, California, is likely looking at some serious goal time and major league fines after pleading guilty to tax fraud by hiding cash transactions – he is estimated to have defrauded the US government of anywhere between $500,000 and $1.5m in taxes over a six year period.
A Suzuki Motor America employee is being taken to court by U.S. authorities over claims he knowingly lied for his employer in an application for a Certificate of Conformity under the Clean Air Act – altering documents to show the company would not be over its allotted emissions for the 2012 model year.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. has settled a dispute with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which saw it hit with a $5.2m fine over alleged failure to report an ROV defect that could have created a “substantial product hazard.”
Swiss oil blender Bucher AG is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its formation this year. It started out as a leather and floor care products business called REX in 1917 and evolved to become the Motorex motorcycle lubricant and oil brand in 1947.
MTA Distributing has added U.S. availability of Thai made Vee Rubber tires for V-twin applications.