The Trump administration has expanded its tariff regime to include 60 trading partners, imposing duties of 10% and 12.5% on imported goods.
The move, announced on Friday, targets nations accused of persistent failures to combat forced labor, with Israel among the countries now facing higher costs for exports to the United States.
This escalation marks a significant broadening of US trade policy, replacing previous measures with a wider net that captures dozens of additional economies.
For Israeli exporters, already navigating strained market conditions, the new duties add a layer of cost and complexity to shipments destined for the US, potentially squeezing margins and reducing competitiveness.
The tariffs are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to leverage trade policy for labor and geopolitical objectives.
By citing forced labor concerns, the administration frames the duties as a response to human rights and labor standards, rather than purely economic protectionism.