Elon Musk says he wants 'zero' tariffs between the US and Europe
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
- Elon Musk on Saturday said he wants to see a "free trade zone" between the US and Europe.
- On April 2, US President Donald Trump set a 20% tariff rate for the European Union.
- Musk's comments came as he spoke remotely to a meeting of Italy's League Party.
Elon Musk on Saturday said he'd like to see a "zero-tariff" system between the United States and Europe, days after President Donald Trump implemented baseline "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of trading partners.
"I hope it's agreed that both Europe and the United States should move ideally, in my view, to a zero-tariff situation, effectively creating a free trade zone between Europe and North America," Musk told Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini virtually at a meeting of Italy's League Party. "That's what I hope occurs."
Under Trump's latest tariff plan, which he announced this week on what he called "Liberation Day," the European Union, which includes Italy, will be subject to a 20% tariff rate.
Musk has been one of the most consequential figures of Trump's second term with his plethora of cost-cutting efforts tied to the White House DOGE office.
During the talk, Musk also said he'd like to see increased freedom for individuals to move between Europe and North America.
"If people wish to work in Europe or wish to work in North America, they should be allowed to do so, in my view," he said. "That has certainly been my advice to the president."