BUDAPEST, WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House on Monday to discuss newly announced tariffs with U.S. President Donald Trump, three Israeli officials and a White House spokesman said Saturday. The impromptu in-person visit could be the foreign leader’s first meeting with Trump and an attempt to negotiate a deal to end the tariffs. Netanyahu’s office has not confirmed the visit, which is also likely to include discussions on Iran and Israel’s war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The visit was first reported by Axios. Trump’s surprise invitation came in a phone call Thursday with Netanyahu, who is currently visiting Hungary, when the Israeli leader raised the issue of the tariffs, according to the Israeli officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Under Trump's sweeping new tariff policy, unspecified Israeli exports to the United States are subject to a 17% tariff. The United States is Israel's closest ally and largest trading partner. An Israeli finance ministry official said Thursday that Trump's latest tariff announcement could impact Israeli exports of technology and medical equipment. Israel had already moved to eliminate remaining tariffs on U.S. imports on Tuesday. The two countries signed a free trade agreement 40 years ago, and about 98% of U.S. goods are now tax-free.
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