The Tesla CEO also advocated for the free movement of people between the two regions.
Tech entrepreneur and special adviser to the president, Elon Musk, said Saturday that he wants zero tariffs between the United States and Europe, days after the Trump administration implemented broad duties on countries around the world.
Speaking to Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini during an on-camera event, Musk also said he wants more freedom of movement between North America and Europe.
“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.
Regarding movement between the two regions, Musk added that “if people wish to work in Europe or wish to work in North America, they should be allowed to do so, in my view,” adding that it “has certainly been my advice to the president.”
As part of what the administration called “Liberation Day,” on April 2, President Donald Trump announced a universal baseline tariff of 10 percent and higher rates for major U.S. trading partners that are currently in trade surpluses with the United States. Countries in the European Union, which the Trump administration calculated have been charging the United States 39 percent in tariffs and other trade costs on its goods, were hit with a 20 percent generic tariff under the plan.
Over the weekend, Musk criticized White House trade adviser Peter Navarro related to the tariffs. Navarro told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that the Tesla CEO is “simply protecting his own interests, as any businessperson would do.”
“He’s in Texas assembling cars that have big parts of that car from Mexico, China—the batteries come from Japan or China, the electronics come from Taiwan,” Navarro added.
As a special government employee, Musk can only work under the administration for 130 days. Commenting on the situation last week to reporters, Trump said that Musk will likely leave in “a few months” and has indicated agency heads will continue to work with DOGE after he leaves.
