Earlier this month, U.S. President Joe Biden rolled out new tariffs on an array of Chinese imports, including EVs, in an attempt to bolster American manufacturing.

The Biden administration has maintained a number of tariffs introduced by former President Donald Trump, while ratcheting up others, including a quadrupling of EV duties to more than 100%. The White House said the new measures affect $18 billion in imported Chinese goods.

"Neither Tesla nor I asked for these tariffs, in fact I was surprised when they were announced. Things that inhibit freedom of exchange or distort the market are not good," Musk said at the Viva Technology conference in Paris via video link.

“Tesla competes quite well in the market in China with no tariffs and no deferential support. I’m in favor of no tariffs," Musk said.

Leading tech executives and political figures such as ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt and former U.S. climate envoy John Kerry took to the stage this year at the annual VivaTech conference.

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of Musk-owned social media platform X, is expected to participate in-person on Friday for a panel discussion on the future of content.