US administration removed import levy on Israeli milk products

The free trade agreement between Israel and the US, prohibits placing duties on exports from Israel
 
Following diplomatic efforts exerted by the Israeli Embassy in Washington and the Israeli Agriculture Ministry the U.S. administration decided to remove the import surcharge on dairy products from Israel.
 
Up to now, most of the world's countries exporting milk products to the United States have been forced to pay a levy protecting local production.
 
The financial damage caused to Israel's dairy farmers, due to this tax, amounted to tens of thousands of dollars.
 
The decision followed diplomatic efforts on the part of Yaakov Poleg, agricultural attachי at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
 
Poleg managed to prove to the US Trade Representative that the free trade agreement between Israel and the US, prohibits placing duties on exports from Israel.
 
The levy has been placed by the US on most of the world's countries exporting to America, but does not include exceptional countries which have free trade agreements with the US, which prohibit such a levy. Israel has now joined this list of exceptional countries.