Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently changed his stance on China tariffs during a conference. In January, Musk had expressed concerns about measures needed to protect global competitors from Chinese automakers. However, at the Viva Technology Conference in Paris, Musk stated that he and Tesla did not request these tariffs and highlighted the negative impact of restrictions on market exchange and competition.
He emphasized that Tesla competes well in China without tariffs or differential support. The tariffs, geared towards protecting American workers and businesses, were reported to impact $18 billion in Chinese products. This shift in Musk’s stance follows his previous discussions about tariff programs between the U.S. and China.