The Can-Am Spyder, a three-wheel roadster popular with riders of a certain age, has inspired festivals and its own national motorcycle club. About 25,000 “Spyder Ryders” flock to events like Spyderquest in Saratoga, N.Y., and the Iron Butt Rally. But now this beloved adult trike has become a victim of the Trump administration’s trade war with Canada. On Sept. 29, the Trump administration banned all Canadian-made motorcycles, including the Spyder, along with certain alcohol and dairy products.
“It makes no sense to me whatsoever,” said Harold Mette, 79, who founded the Spyder Ryders in 2011. A self-described “hot dog,” Mr. Mette bought a Spyder because its two front tires allowed him to take tight turns without risking a fall. The price of a 2026 Spyder starts at $27,999, according to the company’s website. Mr. Mette estimated that there are about 100,000 of the vehicles in the United States.
The Spyder is just one example of the many products that have become more expensive, or effectively unavailable, on both sides of the border because of tit-for-tat tariffs and trade restrictions. Can-Am is owned by Bombardier Recreational Products, a Canadian company that manufactures products in Valcourt, Quebec. Those close ties have soured since the start of President Trump’s second term, with tariffs on aluminum and steel prompting retaliation.
“It’s a negotiation tactic used to bring Canada to the table,” said Nghi Huynh, practice leader at Armanino. Evan Chuck, an international trade lawyer at Brownstein, said the move was “a signal that the administration is willing to pull out all the stops.” A statement from Bombardier Recreational Products said the immediate impact was expected to be limited, “as the vast majority of production and shipments for the current season are completed.”
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing