On Monday, April 7, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to discuss recent developments in trade relations between the two nations.
This meeting marked the first face-to-face engagement between President Trump and a foreign leader since the U.S. administration announced new tariffs affecting multiple countries, including a 17% tariff on Israeli goods.
During their discussions, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed Israel’s commitment to addressing the trade imbalance with the United States. He stated that they will eliminate the trade deficit with the United Statese and are also going to eliminate trade barriers.
This pledge comes in response to the U.S. goods trade deficit with Israel, which reached $7.4 billion in 2024, an 8.6% increase from the previous year.
The U.S.-Israel trade relationship has been significant, with bilateral goods trade amounting to approximately $37 billion in 2024. Israeli exports to the U.S. include diamonds, machinery, optical devices, pharmaceuticals, and electronic equipment, totaling over $22 billion that year. The newly imposed tariffs have raised concerns about potential economic impacts on these key industries.
In an effort to mitigate the effects of the tariffs and demonstrate a commitment to free trade, Israel had previously removed its remaining tariffs on U.S. imports. Despite these measures, the U.S. proceeded with implementing the 17% tariff on Israeli goods.
The outcome of the White House meeting and Israel’s commitment to eliminating trade barriers are seen as pivotal steps toward addressing the trade deficit and fostering a more balanced economic relationship between the two allies.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
Source: https://coindoo.com/donald-trump-and-israels-prime-minister-pledge-to-eliminate-trade-barriers-and-deficit/