Tesla CEO Elon Musk watched President Donald Trump converse to the media outdoors the White Home in Washington, DC on March 11, 2025.
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Two firms led by billionaire Doge Chief Elon Musk – SpaceX and Tesla – Lobbying has been submitted US Commerce Consultant Concerning the Trump administration’s tariff coverage.
Nevertheless, the 2 firms had completely different messages. US Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer.
Electrical car producer Tesla has warned of the detrimental impression on the underside line from tariffs and the detrimental impression from different international locations’ obligations imposed on US-made merchandise in retaliation in opposition to these tariffs.
SpaceX argued that working prices for StarLink Web satellite tv for pc companies are growing because of worldwide commerce boundaries, however international rivals don’t face such prices within the US.
The letter comes as Musk oversees what is known as authorities effectivity and efforts to cut back federal spending and worker management on the request of President Donald Trump.
On the similar time, Trump is imposing strict tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, with China and Canada combating again with retaliatory tariffs.
The letters are greater than 700 greater than 700 have been acquired from the commerce consultant’s workplace in response to an invite to public feedback on “unfair commerce practices by different international locations.” The response will likely be posted to a Public Docket.
Jamieson Greer, a candidate for President Donald Trump’s US commerce consultant, testifies at a affirmation listening to with the Senate Committee on Finance, on February 6, 2025, within the Darksen Senate Workplace constructing.
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Tesla, not signed Letter to Greerinspired him to “contemplate the downstream impacts of sure proposed actions taken to deal with unfair commerce practices.”
“Tesla acknowledges and helps the significance of honest commerce, however the assessments made by USTR of potential actions to rectify unfair commerce also needs to be thought of for exports from america,” mentioned a letter submitted by Tesla’s related common counsel Miriam Ekab.
“US exporters are uncovered to inherently disproportionate results when different international locations reply to US buying and selling conduct.”
Tesla mentioned, “This fashion, particular US tariff actions (1) improve the prices of Tesla for autos manufactured within the US, and (2) improve the prices of the identical autos when exported from the US, resulting in a extremely aggressive worldwide marketplace for US producers.”
“USTR ought to examine methods to keep away from these pitfalls in future actions,” the letter states.
SpaceX mentioned in a letter to Greer that “there are numerous regulatory complexities and commerce boundaries in all international locations that the US authorities ought to tackle to proceed its management within the house realm.”
The letter famous that it should be paid to international governments for entry to Starlink satellite tv for pc web tools’s spectrum and import duties and different charges “which considerably improve the price of working in these international locations.”
“The import duties paid in just a few international locations characterize a big improve in the price of Starlink merchandise in these international locations, even if the US will not be inherently obligated to related international merchandise imported into the US to serve prospects right here.”
“It is a big drawback for American firms, simply as President Trump has been taking note of different sectors,” Dan wrote.
Tesla and SpaceX didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon the letter from CNBC.
