The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss various matters including tariffs, the situation in Gaza, and the threat posed by Iran, as confirmed by his office. The meeting is set to take place on Monday, according to a White House official.

Both the US and Israel are dealing with a series of complex issues, which include Trump’s recent imposition of 17% tariffs on Israeli imports, the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, and concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.

Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump will cover discussions on tariffs, efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza, relations between Israel and Turkey, the threat of Iran, and the ongoing issue with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu alleging war crimes in Gaza last November.

The meeting represents a significant diplomatic effort by Netanyahu to negotiate a better trade deal with the US, as Israel has sought to avoid the tariffs by eliminating remaining duties on American goods the day before Trump’s announcement. This would make him the first foreign leader to travel to Washington for such negotiations with Trump.

The US is Israel’s closest ally and largest single trading partner, and the two countries signed a free trade agreement 40 years ago, with about 98% of goods from the US now tax-free. However, a finance ministry official in Israel has stated that Trump’s latest tariff announcement could impact Israel’s exports of machinery and medical equipment.

The implementation of Trump’s tariffs signifies a significant shift in global trade, with the President moving forward with the imposition despite initial discussions to avoid them. The tariffs have already taken effect and are set to increase, causing significant movements in global stock markets.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/06/netanyahu-heads-to-washington-to-talk-tariffs-and-gaza-with-trump