Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House on Monday to discuss recently announced tariffs with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to three Israeli officials. This visit, which was first reported by Axios, would make Netanyahu the first foreign leader to meet with Trump in person to negotiate the removal of tariffs.
Although Netanyahu’s office has not confirmed the visit, the meeting is expected to cover not only the tariff issue but also ongoing discussions on Iran and Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The invitation for this impromptu visit came during a phone call on Thursday between Trump and Netanyahu, who is currently in Hungary. During the call, Netanyahu raised concerns over the new tariff policy, which includes a 17% tariff on unspecified Israeli goods exports to the U.S.
The U.S. is Israel’s largest trading partner, and the tariff announcement is expected to affect Israeli exports, particularly in the sectors of machinery and medical equipment. In response to the new policy, Israel had already moved to cancel its remaining tariffs on U.S. imports earlier in the week. The two countries have had a free trade agreement for 40 years, with approximately 98% of U.S. goods now entering Israel tax-free.
