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US tech-billionaire Elon Musk yesterday said he hoped in future 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 US should move ideally, in my view, to a zero tariff situation, effectively creating a free trade zone between Europe and North America,” Musk said.
Under Trump’s plans announced on Wednesday, Italy will be subject to a general tariff of 20 per cent along with other European Union 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 has been close in the past to Italy’s rightist Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Brothers of Italy party, has also expressed support for Salvini’s League.
Italy’s Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, who is from the League, said earlier 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.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron shared their concerns over the economic and security impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs when they spoke yesterday, Starmer’s office said.
“They agreed that a trade war was in nobody’s interests, but nothing should be off the table,” the statement from Downing Street said.
“The prime minister and president also shared their concerns about the global economic and security impact, particularly in Southeast Asia.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House tomorrow to discuss recently announced tariffs with Trump, Israeli and White House official said yesterday.
The impromptu in-person visit could mark the first by a foreign leader to meet Trump and try to negotiate a deal to remove tariffs.
The surprise invite by Trump came in a phone call on Thursday with Netanyahu, who is presently on a visit to Hungary, when the Israeli leader raised the tariff issue.
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