New Delhi, Feb. 9 -- Ever since Donald Trump first became US President, India's high import duty on Harley Davidson motorcycles has been a pet peeve of his against Indian policy. So much so that he called India a "tariff king." It has been clear ever since that any early- harvest trade pact with the US under him would have to let these big bikes vroom their way freely onto Indian streets.

News reports suggest that the framework that has been agreed upon will remove India's 40% duty on 800-1,600cc sized mobikes, a slashed rate that was in itself a peace offering made soon after Trump took office for a second term.

His apparent Harley fixation may have been symbolic. The segment this brand targets has only a tiny slice of India's mostly u...