Elon Musk’s SpaceX has urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prepare retaliation against European satellite companies, arguing that planned European Union rules would unfairly target foreign operators.
In a letter to the U.S, communications regulator, the company warned that the proposed EU Space Act would impose burdensome obligations while favouring domestic firms.
SpaceX called on the U.S. to enforce “reciprocal restrictions,” potentially exposing European companies to licensing requirements, inspections, and fines similar to those outlined by Brussels. The move comes at a time when Washington maintains tariffs on a range of EU goods, including steel and aluminium.
The dispute centres on new European requirements that would force foreign space companies to obtain licences, comply with environmental and safety standards, and face possible penalties of up to 2% of global sales for violations.
Musk’s company, which operates the Starlink satellite network, described elements of the proposal as “technically infeasible” and accused the EU of targeting large satellite constellations. The complaint forms part of an ongoing U.S. review into whether European regulations amount to unfair treatment of American firms.
Brendan Carr, the FCC chair appointed under Donald Trump’s administration, has signalled that new regulatory burdens could be imposed on European companies if the rules proceed. The confrontation adds to a broader conflict between Musk and Brussels, following a €120 million fine imposed on his platform X under the Digital Services Act.
For Musk, this clash is one symptom of a deeper trend: a trade bloc turning into a bureaucratic super-state determined to restrict freedom of expression, control the digital sphere, and accumulate political power without direct democratic legitimacy.
