Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks on next to U.S. President Donald Trump talking to the media, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 11, 2025.Two companies led by billionaire DOGE chief Elon Musk — SpaceX and Tesla — have submitted letters lobbying the U.S. trade representative on Trump administration tariff policies.The letters come as Musk oversees an effort to slash federal government spending and employee headcount at the behest of President Donald Trump. They also come as Trump is imposing stiff ...

Core Viewpoint - Tesla expresses concerns about potential retaliatory tariffs from U.S. trading partners due to President Trump's trade policies, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of the impacts on U.S. exporters [1][5][7]. Group 1: Trade Policy Concerns - Tesla supports a thorough process by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to address unfair trade practices while ensuring that U.S. companies are not harmed [1][4]. - The company highlights that U.S. exporters face disproportionate impacts from retaliatory tariffs, which have historically led to increased costs and reduced competitiveness in international markets [5][7]. Group 2: Supply Chain Implications - Tesla notes that while it has a significant domestic supply chain, certain auto parts are not available in the U.S., which complicates manufacturing and threatens American jobs [9][10]. - The company advocates for USTR to evaluate domestic supply chain limitations to prevent undue burdens from trade actions that could impose high tariffs on essential components [11]. Group 3: Implementation Timeline - Tesla suggests that a phased approach to implementing trade actions would benefit U.S. companies by allowing them to prepare and adjust their supply chains accordingly [11].