Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to meet with US President Donald Trump on April 7 to discuss a range of issues, including tariffs, the Gaza Strip situation, and the Iranian nuclear crisis.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the meeting’s agenda will focus primarily on economic and regional security concerns. However, Netanyahu’s attendance could be complicated by his ongoing corruption trial, which may require him to request a postponement of hearings to travel to the US.
Netanyahu and Trump previously met in early February. Following that meeting, President Trump announced plans to exert more control over the Gaza Strip. Recently, Trump signed an executive order imposing a 10% base tariff on all imports to the United States starting April 5, with higher tariffs on goods from countries with significant trade deficits with the US, including Israel, where tariffs will be set at 17%.
In response to these developments, the Israeli prime minister’s office declared on April 1 that Israel had abolished all tariffs on US imports. This decision is intended to enhance the bilateral strategic alliance and reduce living costs in Israel. The 1985 free trade agreement between the US and Israel already exempts 99% of US imports from customs duties, so the new policy will primarily impact a limited range of products, particularly imported food and agricultural items.