Martin Coulter
PARIS (Reuters) – Tesla founder Elon Musk told technology investors in Paris on Thursday he is against U.S. tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), saying he does not support measures that distort the market.
Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden imposed new tariffs on a range of Chinese imports, including electric vehicles, in an attempt to support American manufacturing.
The Biden administration has maintained a number of tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump while increasing others, including quadrupling tariffs on electric vehicles to more than 100%. The White House said the new measures affect imports of Chinese goods worth $18 billion.
“Neither Tesla (NASDAQ:) nor I asked for these tariffs, in fact I was surprised when they were announced. Things that impede free exchange or distort the market are not good,” Musk said at the Viva Technology conference in Paris via video link. connection.
“Tesla competes quite well in the Chinese market without tariffs and deferential support. I am for no tariffs,” Musk said.
Top tech CEOs and political figures such as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and former US climate envoy John Kerry took the stage at this year’s annual VivaTech conference.
Linda Yaccarino, CEO of Musk-owned social media platform X, is expected to personally participate in Friday’s discussion about the future of content.