Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may travel to the United States on Monday (April 7) to discuss the new U.S. tariff policy. This information was shared on Saturday by three Israeli officials and one U.S. official, all familiar with the potential visit, according to British news agency Reuters.
According to three unnamed Israeli officials, Trump called Netanyahu on Thursday and extended the invitation during the conversation. At the time, Netanyahu was on a visit to Hungary. During the phone call, the issue of tariffs came up.
If it takes place, this could be the first foreign leader’s visit to the U.S. following Trump’s tariff announcement. Netanyahu is expected to negotiate with Trump regarding the withdrawal of the newly announced tariffs.
The announcement of the new tariffs by President Trump has caused widespread concern around the world. Even close allies like Israel haven’t been spared from Trump’s tariff threats. The United States is Israel’s closest ally and its single largest trade partner.
In addition to tariff discussions, the visit may also include talks on the threat posed by Iran and the ongoing war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. U.S. news outlet Axios was the first to report on this potential visit.
However, Netanyahu’s office has not yet made any official statement regarding the U.S. trip.
An official from Israel’s Ministry of Finance has expressed concern that Trump’s new tariffs could harm Israel’s export of medical equipment and devices.
It is worth mentioning that more than four decades ago, Israel and the U.S. signed a free trade agreement. Nearly 98% of American goods are imported into Israel duty-free. Tel Aviv is expected to announce on Tuesday the removal of tariffs on the remaining goods.