The Chicken Tax: Why We Can't Have Cool Toyota Vans on the Vineyard

If you’ve taken a drive around the Island this time of year, you've probably noticed something: those trusty work vans are everywhere. You know the ones – the Ford Transits, Ram ProMasters, and Mercedes vans zipping around, hauling gear for trades businesses or ferrying a couple of workers from site to site. There's just something about them, isn't there? Maybe it's just me. I can't quite put my finger on it- but I've always had a crush on these cargo vans.

As I found myself perusing the market for a light-duty work van for my small Vineyard business, I couldn't shake a nagging thought: Why are the options here in the U.S. so limited compared to what I've seen abroad? I've always admired the sleek designs and practicality of the work vans I've encountered in Europe and Central America. Their compact size and efficient functionality seem like the perfect fit for my needs. Yet, here in the States, I find myself faced with a relatively paltry selection, leaving me to wonder why I can't get my hands on a cute little Toyota Hi-Ace or something similar. Little did I know, the answer to my question lay in a trade policy dating back to the 1960s – the infamous "Chicken Tax.”

So, here’s the lowdown on the Chicken Tax. Back in the '60s, there was this big fuss between the U.S. and Europe over, of all things, chicken. Yeah, you heard that right – chicken! Europe slapped some hefty tariffs on American chicken imports, and in true eye-for-an-eye fashion, the U.S. decided to retaliate.

Now, this retaliation wasn't just about poultry – it turned into a whole diplomatic saga. Picture this: senators going on about chicken tariffs during nuclear disarmament debates, and even the U.S. president and the German chancellor exchanging more letters about chicken than the potential end of the world. Crazy, right?

Anyway, long story short, after all the back-and-forth, President Johnson slaps this 25% tariff on a bunch of European goods, including chicken. But here's the kicker – they also threw light trucks into the mix. Why? Well, because the U.S. auto industry was feeling the heat from those cool foreign cars and trucks, especially those nifty little Volkswagens. So, to keep the home team happy, they slapped a tax on those foreign light trucks too.

Fast forward to today, and we're still feeling the effects of that decision. The Chicken Tax might have started as a retaliation over poultry, but it's stuck around like a stubborn stain. That 25% tariff on imported light trucks is still here, which explains why we’re not seeing those cute little Toyota Hi-Aces cruising our streets.

And get this – even though they've lifted tariffs on other stuff, the auto workers' union has managed to keep the tax on light trucks alive and kicking. So, American-made trucks still rule the roost, and we're left dreaming about those cool vans we see everywhere else.

So, yeah, next time you're wondering why our van options are kinda bland, just remember: it's all because of a little thing called the Chicken Tax. Who knew poultry could cause such a fuss?