US tech billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday said that he hoped to see complete freedom of trade between the US and Europe, speaking days after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on trading partners.
Musk, a Trump adviser who has been working to eliminate wasteful US public spending, spoke via video link at a congress in Florence of Italy’s right-wing, co-ruling League Party.
“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.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Under Trump’s plans announced on Wednesday, Italy, which has a large trade surplus with the US, would be subject to a general tariff of 20 percent along with other EU countries.
Interviewed by League leader Matteo Salvini, Musk, who has repeatedly expressed support for right-wing parties across Europe, said he also hoped to see greater freedom of movement between Europe and the US.
“If people wish to work in Europe or wish to work in North America, they should be allowed to do so in my view,” Musk said, adding that this “has certainly been my advice to the president.”
Musk, who is close to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Brothers of Italy party, has also expressed support for Salvini’s League.
Both groups have a hard-right agenda based on law and order, tax cuts and cracking down on irregular immigration.
Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, who is from the League, earlier on Saturday said that the government wanted “de-escalation” with the US following Trump’s tariff announcement, and warned against imposing retaliatory tariffs.
Musk last month expressed gratitude to Salvini after the League chief said Italy should pick his Starlink company to obtain a system for satellite communications.
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