Musk wants 'zero tariff' free trade zone between Europe and North America

(Patria) - American tech billionaire Elon Musk said on Saturday he hopes to see completely free trade between the United States and Europe in the future, speaking a few days after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on trading partners.

Musk, a Trump adviser who has worked on eliminating wasteful US public spending, spoke via video link at a congress of Italy's right-wing League party, Reuters reported.

"At the end of the day, I hope it is agreed that both Europe and the United States should ideally move, in my opinion, 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, which has a large trade surplus with the United States, is subject to a twenty percent tariff like other European Union countries.

In a conversation with League leader Matteo Salvini, Musk, who has repeatedly expressed support for right-wing parties across Europe, said he also hopes 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, in my opinion, they should be allowed to do so," Musk said, adding that this was "certainly my advice to the president."

Musk, who has in the past been close to Italian right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Brothers of Italy party, also expressed support for Salvini's League. Both parties have a hard-right platform based on law and order, tax cuts and curbing illegal immigration.

Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, who is from the League, said earlier on Saturday the government wants "de-escalation" with the United States after Trump's tariff announcement and warned against imposing retaliatory tariffs.

Musk last month expressed gratitude to Salvini after the League leader said Italy should choose his company Starlink to obtain a satellite communications system.