Tesla CEO Elon Musk watched President Donald Trump speak to the media outside the White House in Washington, DC on March 11, 2025.
Kevin Lamarck | Reuters
Two companies led by billionaire Doge Chief Elon Musk – SpaceX and Tesla – I submitted a letter lobbying to US trade representatives on the Trump administration’s tariff policy.
However, the companies had a different message for US trade representative Jamieson Greer.
Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has warned of the negative impact on the bottom line from tariffs and of the negative impact from other countries’ obligations imposed on US-made products in retaliation against these tariffs.
SpaceX argued that operating costs for StarLink Internet satellite services are increasing due to international trade barriers, but foreign competitors do not face such costs in the US.
The letter comes as Musk oversees what is called government efficiency and efforts to reduce federal spending and employee leadership at the request of President Donald Trump.
At the same time, Trump is imposing strict tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, with China and Canada fighting back with retaliatory tariffs.
The letters are more than 700 more than 700 have been received from the trade representative’s office in response to an invitation to public comments on “unfair trade practices by other countries.” Your response will be posted on the public docket.
Jamieson Greer, a candidate for President Donald Trump’s US trade representative, testifies at a confirmation hearing with the Senate Committee on Finance, on February 6, 2025, in the Darksen Senate Office building.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. |Getty Images
In an unsigned letter to Greer, Tesla encouraged him to “consider the downstream impacts of certain proposed actions taken to address unfair trade practices.”
“Tesla recognizes and supports the importance of fair trade, but the assessments made by USTR of potential actions to rectify unfair trade should also be considered for exports from the United States,” said a letter submitted by Tesla’s associated general counsel Miriam Ekab.
“US exporters are exposed to inherently disproportionate effects when other countries respond to US trading behavior.”
Tesla said, “This way, special US tariff actions (1) increase the costs of Tesla for vehicles manufactured in the US, and (2) increase the costs of the same vehicles when exported from the US, leading to a highly competitive international market for US manufacturers.”
“USTR should investigate ways to avoid these pitfalls in future actions,” the letter states.
SpaceX said in a letter to Greer that “there are various regulatory complexities and trade barriers in all countries that the US government should address to continue its leadership in the space realm.”
The letter noted that it must be paid to foreign governments for access to the spectrum and import duties of Starlink satellite internet equipment and other fees “which significantly increase the cost of operating in these countries.”
“The import duties paid in a few countries represent a significant increase in the cost of Starlink products in these countries, despite the fact that the US is not inherently obligated to similar foreign products imported into the US to serve customers here.”
“This is a huge disadvantage for American companies, just as President Trump has been paying attention to other sectors,” Dan wrote.
Tesla and SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter from CNBC.
