Beloved Motorcycle Brand Banned from U.S. Amid Trump’s Trade War with Canada: ‘Makes No Sense’

Bikers hoping to go three-wheeling in the United States now have one less brand to choose from, thanks to President Donald Trump‘s trade dispute with Canada.

As of September 29, all Canadian-made motorcycles and mopeds with engines larger than 800 cc have been banned from import to the U.S. — including the Can-Am Spyder. As noted by CNBC, other impacted goods include alcoholic beverages, whey products and molasses.

“It makes no sense to me whatsoever,” Spyder Ryders group founder Harole Mette, 79, told The New York Times. “Quantitatively, in terms of total dollar value of imports and exports, it’s nothing.”

Mette estimated that there are only about 100,000 Spyders in the U.S., with the publication pointing out that newer models start at $29,000 on the company’s website.

Owned by Canadian company Bombardier Recreational Products, the Spyder proudly proclaims to be built “through a collective effort” of bike enthusiasts from both the United States and our neighbors to the North. That, however, didn’t spare the company from falling victim to Trump’s ongoing trade war.

Bombardier told the Times that they didn’t expect the immediate impact of the ban to be too overwhelming, as “the vast majority of production and shipments for the current season are completed.”

Next year, however, is another story, should the trade dispute continue.

There are several U.S.-manufactured three-wheelers still available to local buyers however, including the Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic and the Polaris Slingshot.

Tensions between the two countries began when Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on Canadian aluminum and steel in 2025, with Canada responding by placing a 25 percent tariff on a number of American products. Things escalated from there, with the U.S. later upping the tariff to 50 percent and Canada responding by imposing retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15 to 50 percent.

Trump’s administration followed that up with the September 29 ban on $1 billion worth of Canadian imports, including dairy goods, spirits, and motorcycles.

“They take advantage of us, they feel entitled … there’s nothing they have that we need,” President Trump told reporters the day the ban went into effect, per CNBC.

“I think what’s going to happen is over the next three to four weeks they’re going to come to us and they’re going to say, ‘We’re going to get rid of all the tariffs.’ We’re going to win everything,” he added at the time.

Per the AP, Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed to double the country’s non-US trade going forward, decreasing their reliance on the United States.

In response to Trump’s comments, Carney added that “Canada stands ready to negotiate in good faith” toward “a mutually advantageous trade arrangement that respects both our countries’ sovereignty.”