Baffling — why impose the tariff in the first place?

From: The Times of Israel April 5, 2025
Netanyahu set to meet Trump in Washington on Monday in bid to reverse the trade tariffs Washington imposed on Israel

White House talks would make prime minister first foreign leader to negotiate in person with Trump on new trade policy;
Rubio also talks tariffs, Iran and Gaza with premier

Trump had told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday that Netanyahu “may very well be coming next week.”

They will also discuss:
1. efforts to reach a hostage deal,
2. Israel-Turkey relations,
3. the Iranian threat,
4. and confronting the International Criminal Court

“The prime minister appreciates the personal and warm relationship with President Trump,” the statement continues, “and thanks him for inviting him to be the first leader to meet with him after the imposition of global tariffs, just as he was also the first leader to meet with him after entering the White House.”

A senior Israeli official had told reporters in Budapest on Friday that Netanyahu discussed the tariffs with Trump.
“I believe we will enter a dialogue with them, said the official. “In the end, most of it is solvable.”

Trump’s 17% tariff on unspecified Israeli goods caught Jerusalem off guard.

Earlier in the week, in a bid to forestall such a harsh penalty by Israel’s single largest trade partner, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had scrapped all remaining tariffs on American imports.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Friday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Netanyahu “to underscore US support for Israel.”