Israel is removing the remaining tariffs it has on imports from the United States before the Trump administration imposes countertariffs on its trading partners.
The U.S. and Israel have a close diplomatic and trade relationship, and America is Israel’s largest trading partner.
The move isn’t official yet — it still needs a final signature from Economy Minister Nir Barkat and the Israeli Parliament’s Finance Committee — but both are expected.
“The removal of tariffs on American goods is another step … to open the market to competition, to diversify the economy, and to lower the cost of living,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a joint statement with Barkat and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“In addition to the economic benefits for the economy and the citizens of Israel, the current move will enable us to further strengthen the alliance and ties between Israel and the United States,” the statement continued.
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Trump proponents have said Israel’s response to the U.S. tariff warnings should be repeated by other nations.
“Israel sets the example on how all of our allies should preemptively respond to President [Donald Trump’s] desire to level the tariff playing field for America,” hedge fund manager Bill Ackman said in a post on X.
On Wednesday, the Trump administration will impose sweeping tariffs on other nations that the White House has called “reciprocal” to what each nation does to the U.S.
