Fico Meets Musk in Washington, USAID and Customs Tariffs Discussed

Washington, February 21 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has met billionaire and head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Elon Musk during his working trip to the USA, the premier himself posted on a social network on Friday. Fico and Musk discussed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which, according to Fico, financed "anti-government NGOs" in Slovakia. They also spoke about US customs tariffs on European goods and investment opportunities in Slovakia. According to Fico, USAID provided Slovak NGOs and media with "relatively huge amounts of money" with which they subsequently carried out "anti-government activities". Musk assured Fico that this "era is over, as the new US president's administration isn't interested in interfering in the internal affairs of other countries using American money". Fico also spoke with Musk about the tariffs that US President Donald Trump wants to impose on European goods. They touched on Trump's decision to impose 25-percent duty on steel and aluminium imports. However, this measure concerns other regions of the world more than the European Union, stated Fico. The Slovak premier views the potential imposition of tariffs on cars as a more serious problem. Fico said that he pressed Musk about this, telling him that car tariffs are an issue that should not be dealt with hastily and that it would be good to create time to discuss this. Fico sees a possible solution in equal tariffs on cars imported from the US and the EU, or in a zero tariff rate. Musk told Fico that the current administration is pushing the idea of ​​equal tarriffs. Investment opportunities in Slovakia were also on the agenda of the talks. Fico and Musk spoke about the possibility of placing data centres for artificial intelligence-related projects in Slovakia. Fico invited members of Musk's team to visit Slovakia in this connection. The Slovak premier pointed out that Musk's company Tesla is seeking a country in which to manufacture its electric cars. Fico left for a visit to the USA on Thursday (February 20). On Friday, he will visit Arlington, where he will pay respects to a Slovak soldier who served in the US Army. He will then deliver a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). ko/df