Nadene Goldfoot
Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived in Washington yesterday, where he met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick and trade representative Greer to discuss the 17% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Israeli exports to the United States. Netanyahu will meet with President Trump at the White House today.
Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington speaking with President Donald Trump. The president's decision to levy tariffs on friends and foes alike is not only roiling the markets, but setting the United States' relationships with traditional allies on unsure footing. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the old U.S.-Canada relationship is "over" and Canada will need to "dramatically reduce" its reliance on the U.S.
However, Israel's Netanyahu is taking a different approach though the U.S. is set to impose 17% tariffs on imports from Israel, effective Wednesday. This is Monday. Other nations, too, are scrambling to try to reverse Mr. Trump's tariffs. Netanyahu said he told Mr. Trump that Israel would soon address his country's trade deficit with the U.S."I can tell you that I said to the president, a very simple thing — we will eliminate the trade deficit with the United States," Netanyahu said. "We intend to do it very quickly. We think it's the right thing to do. And we're also going to eliminate trade barriers."
In 2022, of $14.2 billion in U.S. exports to Israel, the top commodity sectors were Stone, Glass, Metals, Pearls (28.0% of the total exports to the country), Machinery and Mechanical Appliances (27.1% of such total), and Chemicals, Plastics, Rubber, Leather Goods (12.7% of such total).
The trade deficit was $7.2 billion, increasing 24.1% ($1.4 billion) from 2021. In 2022, the level of U.S. exports to Israel and U.S. imports from Israel in goods, merchandise, and commodities as well as the trade deficit with Israel all exceeded the prior five-year average level by value (not adjusted for inflation). I wrote another article telling what USA imports from Israel.
The rate of 17% was calculated by using the U.S. trade deficit with Israel of $7 billion (Israeli exports to the U.S. total $20 billion, Israeli imports from the U.S. total $13 billion per year).
All this was quite a surprise to Israel !
Besides food, the USA imports from Israel a variety of goods, including precious metals and stones (like diamonds), pharmaceuticals, electrical machinery, optical and medical instruments, and machinery and mechanical appliances.
Here's what USA imports from Israel: Foods
- Snack Foods: Israeli snack foods like "Bissli" (a type of crispy snack) are popular.
- Processed Fruits and Vegetables: Israel exports processed fruits and vegetables, including fruit juices, and prepared or preserved tomatoes.
- Wine and Beer: Israeli wines and beers are also exported to the U.S.
- Planting Seeds: Israel is a significant exporter of planting seeds.
- Tree Nuts: Tree nuts are another important agricultural export from Israel to the U.S.
- Other foods:
- Avocados: In 2023, avocado was the leading agricultural export commodity in Israel, in terms of purchase Israeli oranges, particularly the "Jaffa" brand, at major grocery stores, international markets, and online retailers like Costco and Instacart.
- Za'atar: A popular spice blend of hyssop and sesame seeds.
- Tahini Paste: Al Arz Tahini Paste, which was recently voted as the best Tahini in Israel.
- Olive Oil: Eliad Olive Oil, housed on rich basalt lands in the northern Holy Land.
- Honey: Honey products are also exported.
- Teas: Wissotzky teas, such as green tea with lemongrass and ginger, black mint tea, and masala chai.
- Coffee: Elite instant coffee and mocha coffee.
- Cookies: Abadi Delicious Middle Eastern Cookies.
- Other: Gift boxes containing various Israeli food items are also shipped.
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