Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Saturday that he hoped for a complete freedom of trade between the United States and Europe, calling for a “zero-tariff situation” amid US President Donald Trump’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs on all its trading partners across the globe.
Musk, who has been advising the US president to eliminate wasteful US spending and downsize the federal workforce via the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spoke via video-link at a congress in Florence with Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister.
“At the end of the day, 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 said during the interview.
A heartfelt thank you, @elonmusk, on behalf of the entire Lega community!👏#CoraggiodellaLibertà #CongressoLega2025 pic.twitter.com/oKZ87d2wH6
— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) April 5, 2025
Musk’s comments come amid President Trump’s announcement of a 20% reciprocal tariff on goods from the European Union. Italy, which has a large trade surplus with the United States, will also be subjected to a 20% tariff like other EU countries.
During the interview, Musk also said that he hopes to see a greater freedom of movement between the United States and Europe in the coming time.
A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing.
Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2025
“If people wish to work in Europe or wish to work in North America, they should be allowed to do so in my view,” said Musk, adding that he has advised this to President Trump as well.
Musk recently criticised Trump administration’s senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Peter Navarro over tariffs and said, “A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing. He ain’t built sh*t.”
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