BUDAPEST/WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House on Monday to discuss recently announced tariffs with US President Donald Trump, three Israeli officials said on Saturday.
The impromptu visit was first reported by Axios, which said that if the visit takes place, the Israeli leader would be the first foreign leader to meet with Trump in person to try to negotiate a deal to remove tariffs.
Netanyahu’s office has not confirmed the visit, that would likely also include discussions on Iran and Israel’s war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
The surprise invite by Trump came in a phone-call on Thursday with Netanyahu, who is presently on a visit to Hungary, when the Israeli leader raised the tariff issue, according to the Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
As part of a sweeping new tariff policy announced by Trump, unspecified Israeli goods exports to the United States face a 17 percent tariff. The US is Israel’s closest ally and largest single trading partner.
An Israeli finance ministry official said on Thursday that Trump’s latest tariff announcement could impact Israel’s exports of machinery and medical equipment.
Israel had already moved to cancel its remaining tariffs on US imports on Tuesday. The two countries signed a free trade agreement 40 years ago and about 98 percent of goods from the US are now tax-free.
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Netanyahu expected to talk tariffs with Trump in Washington on Monday, officials say
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Netanyahu expected to talk tariffs with Trump in Washington on Monday, officials say
India’s foreign minister confirms an Iranian naval ship is docked at the port in Kochi
- The ships had previously taken part in naval exercises hosted by India
- The Indian foreign minister said Saturday an Iranian naval vessel has docked in India
DUBAI: The Indian foreign minister said Saturday an Iranian naval vessel has docked in India.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the IRIS Lavan is docked in the southern city of Kochi after India granted permission when the vessel reported “having problems” on March 1. News agency Press Trust of India, citing unnamed “government sources,” had earlier reported that the ship has been in Kochi since March 4.
“I think it was the humane thing to do,” Jaishankar said.
A US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Another Iranian vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, requested assistance from Sri Lanka, where more than 200 sailors were being brought ashore.
The ships had previously taken part in naval exercises hosted by India, but Jaishankar said they got “caught on the wrong side of events” once the war began.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the IRIS Lavan is docked in the southern city of Kochi after India granted permission when the vessel reported “having problems” on March 1. News agency Press Trust of India, citing unnamed “government sources,” had earlier reported that the ship has been in Kochi since March 4.
“I think it was the humane thing to do,” Jaishankar said.
A US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Another Iranian vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, requested assistance from Sri Lanka, where more than 200 sailors were being brought ashore.
The ships had previously taken part in naval exercises hosted by India, but Jaishankar said they got “caught on the wrong side of events” once the war began.
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