Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to eliminate trade barriers and the trade deficit with the United States during a meeting with President Trump, seeking relief from newly imposed reciprocal tariffs.
“We will eliminate the trade deficit with the United States,” Netanyahu said at the White House on Monday. “We intend to do it very quickly. We think it’s the right thing to do. And we’re going to also eliminate trade barriers.”
Netanyahu’s visit marked the first by a foreign leader since Trump announced sweeping new tariffs last week. The Israeli leader framed his talks with Trump as a potential template for other countries, saying Israel could “serve as a model for many countries” navigating the administration’s evolving trade policy.
Market volatility reflected the tension, as U.S. stocks swung sharply throughout the day. A false report suggesting Trump might pause the tariffs briefly lifted markets before gains reversed after the White House issued a denial. The meeting between Trump and one of his closest political allies came under close watch from global trading partners looking for clues on the path forward.
