Israel Eliminates Remaining U.S. Import Tariffs Amid Trade Negotiations

According to BlockBeats, Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich has signed an order to immediately remove all remaining import tariffs on U.S. goods. This move appears to be aimed at securing a reprieve from reciprocal tariffs expected to be announced by the Trump administration on Wednesday. The directive was coordinated with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Economy Minister Barkat but still requires final approval from the Israeli Parliament's Finance Committee. In a letter dated March 20 to Barkat and Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, Smotrich called for the removal of tariffs on U.S. products, particularly in the agricultural sector. Israel and the United States signed a free trade agreement in 1985, which led to phased tariff reductions, culminating in the near-total elimination of tariffs on manufactured goods by 1995. However, the agreement allows both countries to maintain certain import and tariff restrictions, such as quotas and fees on agricultural products, primarily to protect local production and ensure food security.