Elon Musk's Elusive Stance on the Tariff Wars

Executive Summary:

Elon Musk's recent Twitter activity lacks explicit mentions of tariffs, despite them being a prominent aspect of President Trump's agenda. Musk's past statements indicate opposition to import duties, but his silence on the issue has sparked criticism and speculation. Additionally, his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over EV tariffs raises questions about potential conflicts of interest.

Musk's Past Stance on Tariffs:

* In 2018, Musk expressed opposition to general import duties and agreed with Trump's concerns about foreign duties on cars.
* Searches of Musk's Twitter posts using terms like "tariff" show minimal to no results in recent weeks.

Trump's Trade Agenda and Reciprocal Tariffs:

* Trump has announced plans for reciprocal tariffs, targeting countries that impact U.S. trade.
* Discussions with India are underway to reduce duties on EVs or potentially impose reciprocal tariffs.
* Trump has also implemented tariffs on China and threatened further measures on other goods.

Musk's Balancing Act:

* Musk's public stance aligns with some Republicans who support free trade but refrain from criticizing Trump's trade policies.
* Musk's enthusiasm for Trump's agenda remains evident, despite his silence on tariffs.

Political Criticism and Allegations:

* Senator Chris Murphy has accused Musk of corruption for allegedly seeking concessions from Modi in exchange for personal gain.
* Trump has acknowledged Musk's desire to do business in India, despite its restrictive trade environment.

Musk's Support for Non-Tariff Barriers:

* Musk has previously voiced concerns about the impact of local value-added taxes (VATs) on Tesla's car prices.
* Trump's memo on reciprocal tariffs includes discussions of non-tariff barriers like VATs.

Conclusion:

Elon Musk's conspicuous absence of commentary on tariffs has garnered attention, prompting questions about his stance and potential conflicts of interest. While his past statements indicate opposition to import duties, his current silence suggests a shift in position or strategic decision to avoid controversy.