Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to remove trade barriers for American products and achieve a fairer trade balance between Israel and the United States. His statement came after a meeting with US President Donald Trump on Monday at the White House.
Netanyahu expressed optimism about swift progress in trade cooperation and suggested that Israel could serve as a model for future US trade agreements with other countries. He revealed that discussions had already begun with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick shortly after his arrival in Washington on Sunday.
While addressing the press, President Trump declined to commit to lifting the proposed 17 per cent tariff on Israeli goods but emphasized America’s strong financial support for Israel and promised continued protection for its allies.
Trump also confirmed that many countries had approached the US for talks following his recent tariff announcements. He reiterated that his administration’s goal is to secure ‘fair’ agreements that benefit American interests.
‘Trump declined to commit to lifting the proposed 17 per cent tariff on Israeli goods but emphasized America’s strong financial support for Israel’
Turning to Europe, Trump criticized the European Union’s proposed tariff-free deal on cars, calling it inadequate. He repeated his long-standing complaint about non-tariff barriers imposed by the EU, which he argued make it nearly impossible for American goods to meet European import standards.
Nonetheless, Trump suggested the US–EU trade deficit could be resolved quickly if Europe increased imports of American energy. ‘They must commit to buying energy from the United States,’ he added.
Regarding China, the US president warned that if Beijing did not roll back its 34 per cent retaliatory tariffs by midnight Tuesday, additional measures would follow. However, he expressed hope that his personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping would remain strong.
Trump concluded by promising a full overhaul of the global trade system to better serve American interests, calling the current moment a ‘unique opportunity’ for reform.
Netanyahu travelled to Washington from Budapest following a multi-day visit to Hungary. This marks his second official trip to the US since Trump took office in January.
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