JAKARTA - US billionaire Elon Musk hopes to see full freedom in trade between the United States and Europe in the future.
Elon Musk spoke days after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on trading partners. Musk, Trump's adviser, who is seeking to eliminate waste of US public spending, spoke via teleconference at the congress in Florence from the Italian far-right Italian League Party.
"In the end, I hope it is agreed that both Europe and the United States must move ideally, in my view, to the zero-rate situation, which effectively creates a free trade zone between Europe and North America," Musk said.
Based on Trump's plan announced on Wednesday, Italy, which has a major trade surplus with the United States, will be subject to a general tariff of 20% along with other EU countries.
In an interview with Liga leader Matteo Salvini, Musk, who repeatedly expressed his support for far-right parties across Europe, said he also hoped to see greater freedom of movement between Europe and the United States.
"If people want to work in Europe or want to work in North America, I think they should be allowed to do so," Musk said.
"This is definitely my advice to the president," he added.
Musk, previously close to Italian far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her party Brothers of Italy, also expressed his support for the Salvini League.
The two groups have a strict right-wing agenda based on law and order, tax cuts, and prosecution of illegal immigration.
Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, who is from the League, said the government wanted to "dissoclate" with the US following Trump's tariff announcement, and warned against imposing retaliatory rates.
Musk last month expressed his gratitude to Salvini after the head of the League said Italy should choose his Starlink company to acquire a satellite communication system.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
