BUDAPEST/WASHINGTON () – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to talk about newly imposed tariffs, according to statements from three Israeli officials and one from the White House made on Saturday.
An unexpected face-to-face meeting might be the initial one where a foreign leader meets with Trump to discuss potentially getting rid of tariffs through negotiation.
Netanyahu’s office hasn’t verified the trip, which could reportedly cover topics such as Iran and Israel's conflict with the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in Gaza. This information was initially brought to light by Axios.
A sudden invitation from Trump was extended during a telephone conversation on Thursday with Netanyahu, who is currently visiting Hungary. During this talk, the Israeli leader brought up the topic of tariffs, as reported by Israeli officials requesting confidentiality.
In line with a comprehensive new tariff strategy unveiled by Trump, certain Israeli products exported to the United States will be subject to a 17% duty. The U.S., being Israel’s strongest ally and principal trading partner, has established this policy change.
A representative from the Israeli Ministry of Finance stated on Thursday that President Trump’s recent tariff announcement might affect Israel's exports of machinery and medical supplies.
On Tuesday, Israel had already taken steps to eliminate its outstanding tariffs on U.S. imports. The bilateral free trade agreement between these nations was inked 40 years ago, and currently, approximately 98% of American goods enter Israel without taxes.
(Reported by Jasper Ward, Maayan Lubell, and Steve Holland; Edited by Ryan Patrick Jones, William Maclean, and Diane Craft)