Israel may restrict Black Sea wheat imports amid new trade deal with the US

Israel is considering introducing a 50% import tariff on feed wheat from the Black Sea region following the entry into force of a new agricultural trade agreement with the United States. The agreement, effective January 1, 2026, provides duty-free access for US agricultural products to the Israeli market and includes government support for wheat imports from the US.

Under the proposed measures, the tariff could apply to feed wheat from Russia and Ukraine, while corn and barley are preliminarily expected to remain exempt from the restrictions. The tentative launch date for the new rules is April 1, 2026, although a final decision has not yet been made.

The potential restrictions are expected to have the greatest impact on Russian exporters, as Russia accounts for about 95% of Israel’s feed wheat imports. If tariffs are introduced, Russian suppliers could lose a significant share of this market or face stronger competition from alternative exporters.

For Ukraine, the potential impact is expected to be limited due to its relatively small share in Israel’s feed wheat imports during the current season. Market sources indicate that Israeli officials are currently preparing for negotiations with the United States, after which the final decision on trade restrictions will become clearer.

Tags: Israel, USA, restrictions, Russia, corn, barley, Black Sea region, wheat