SpaceX Urges US To Handle Foreign Trade Barriers To Starlink

Starlink, experiencing business difficulties in several countries (photo: x @BassonBrain)

JAKARTA - SpaceX, a company owned by Elon Musk, has asked the United States government to deal with trade barriers affecting Starlink satellite communications services in various countries. The company considers that foreign competitors do not face similar import fees in the US, thus creating inequality in competition.

In a letter sent to the US Trade Office on Tuesday, March 11, SpaceX complained that it should pay foreign governments for spectral access, import duties on Starlink equipment, as well as various other regulatory costs. This, according to the company, unfairly increases Starlink's operational costs abroad.

"This requirement is a protectionist non-tariff trade barrier," Matt Dunn, Senior Director of Global Government Affairs of SpaceX, said in the letter. He also alleges that this anti-competitive policy is being used by foreign operators to inhibit or slow down Starlink services that are of higher quality and more affordable nature for customers in those countries.

Starlink currently operates in more than 120 global markets. However, in some countries, SpaceX must coordinate with domestic satellite operators to share spectrum before it can activate its services.

SpaceX's complaint comes amid rising tensions over trade barriers for US companies.

Meanwhile, Tesla, another company also led by Musk, recently warned that they and other major US exporters face the risk of retaliatory rates from countries such as Canada, China, and the European Union. This is related to the aggressive tariff policy implemented by US President Donald Trump.

Musk himself is known as Trump's close ally and leads the White House's efforts to reduce the size of the federal government through the Government's Department of Efficiency.