Tesla raises concerns over retaliatory tariffs in unsigned letter

Tesla’s message to the U.S. Trade Representative is notable because the company’s chief executive, Elon Musk, right, is a close ally of President Trump and leads efforts by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency to downsize the federal government. Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla has joined several other American businesses in raising concerns over retaliatory tariffs that could result from a trade war fueled by President Trump. In an unsigned letter on Tesla letterhead addressed to the U.S. trade representative, Tesla warned that Trump’s actions to “address unfair trade practices” could “inadvertently harm U.S. companies.” Trump imposed a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico in an effort to alleviate the “threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs,” according to a White House fact sheet. Tesla’s letter, posted on the U.S. trade representative’s website, said that past U.S. tariff actions have led to increased costs for domestic manufacturing and increased tariffs on EVs exported to foreign countries. Tesla’s message to the U.S. trade representative is notable because the company’s chief executive, Musk, is a close Trump ally and is leading efforts to downsize the federal government.