Can a buyer in Israel import from United States?

• Commercial invoice and packing list

  Core shipment and valuation documents.

  TypicalSupplier

• Transport document

  Bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note.

  TypicalCarrier

• Customs declaration

  Filed by the importer or a customs representative.

  MandatoryBuyer / broker

• Proof of origin

  Needed only when claiming the preferential rate.

  ConditionalSupplier

• Product compliance evidence

  Depends on the product code and intended use.

  ConditionalSupplier

Typical and mandatory are kept separate. Each requirement names the responsible party.

The same facet states, sources, evidence dates, missing inputs and transaction context as structured JSON.

{
  "schema_version": "trade-route-answer.v1",
  "kind": "trade_route_answer",
  "context_id": "TR-IL-US-FCB522",
  "mode": "third_country",
  "transaction": {
    "buyer": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Buyer in Israel",
      "country": "IL"
    },
    "supplier": {
      "company_id": null,
      "name": "Supplier in United States",
      "country": "US"
    },
    "movement": {
      "ship_from": "US",
      "origin_country": "US"
    },
    "goods": {
      "description": null,
      "hs_code": null,
      "end_use": "unknown"
    },
    "payment": {
      "currency": null,
      "bank_jurisdiction": "unknown"
    }
  },
  "verdict": {
    "state": "review",
    "title": "Country route described, coverage incomplete. No conclusion on this transaction yet.",
    "summary": "United States to Israel is a third-country movement. Our sanctions register has no reviewed coverage for Israel, so the answer shows the gap instead of assuming ordinary treatment."
  },
  "coverage_summary": "2 established · 1 need input · 3 not checked",
  "facets": [
    {
      "key": "route",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Third-country import into Israel",
      "explanation": "United States to Israel crosses a customs border. A customs declaration is filed on entry.",
      "scope": "Country route only. Says nothing about the goods or the parties.",
      "missing_inputs": [],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "wto-tariff-data",
          "source_label": "WTO, tariff data (MFN applied rates by member)",
          "source_url": "https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tariffs_e/tariff_data_e.htm",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live tariff query required"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "restrictions",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "Israel outside our sanctions register's reviewed coverage",
      "explanation": "Our country-level register holds no programme for Israel, but it lists only measures we have reviewed and is not exhaustive: silence here is a gap in our coverage, not a finding that no measure exists. US (OFAC) binds this lane, so their measures on Israel have to be checked at the authority before anyone relies on this. US (OFAC) binds the supplier itself: a seller established in United States follows its own export-control and sanctions rules whatever the currency.",
      "scope": "No reviewed coverage for this country in our register",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Check the Israel country measures at each binding authority (US (OFAC))",
        "Screen the supplier, its owners, the consignee and the end user"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "un-sc-sanctions",
          "source_label": "United Nations Security Council, sanctions information",
          "source_url": "https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/information",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Current official programme index"
        },
        {
          "source_id": "ofac-programs",
          "source_label": "US Treasury, OFAC sanctions programs and country information",
          "source_url": "https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Current official programme index"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "trade_preference",
      "state": "needs_input",
      "conclusion": "Israel-US FTA covers this pair",
      "explanation": "The agreement is on record (in force since 1985-09). The preferential rate itself is a product question: it needs the exact HS code, the product schedule and proof of United States origin.",
      "scope": "Existence of the agreement only; rate and origin rules per product",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS code",
        "Obtain acceptable proof of origin from the supplier"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "fta-israel-us-fta",
          "source_label": "Israel-US FTA",
          "source_url": "https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/israel-fta",
          "observed_at": "2026-05-27",
          "source_as_of": "In force since 1985-09"
        },
        {
          "source_id": "access2markets",
          "source_label": "Access2Markets, My Trade Assistant (tariffs and product requirements by HS code)",
          "source_url": "https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/home",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live product query required"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "vat_and_customs",
      "state": "established",
      "conclusion": "Import VAT 18% in Israel",
      "explanation": "Israel charges import VAT of 18% on goods plus freight plus duty. Duty depends on the HS code and is not stated here.",
      "scope": "Standard rate on a B2B import; reduced rates, deferral schemes and duty are outside this statement",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS code for the duty rate"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "vat-il",
          "source_label": "Israel Tax Authority",
          "source_url": "https://www.gov.il/en/departments/israel_tax_authority",
          "observed_at": "2026-07-21",
          "source_as_of": "Standard rate reviewed 2026-07-21"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "goods",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "Goods not specified",
      "explanation": "Without the exact HS or CN code neither duty nor product rules can be established.",
      "scope": "Product-specific requirements per code",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Add the exact HS or CN code",
        "Describe the product"
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "source_id": "access2markets",
          "source_label": "Access2Markets, My Trade Assistant (tariffs and product requirements by HS code)",
          "source_url": "https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/home",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-27",
          "source_as_of": "Live product query required"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "key": "company_screening",
      "state": "not_checked",
      "conclusion": "No supplier company selected",
      "explanation": "Country information cannot establish a supplier identity. Select the exact legal entity to screen it.",
      "scope": "No counterparty in scope",
      "missing_inputs": [
        "Select or establish the exact legal entity"
      ],
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "documents": [
    {
      "title": "Commercial invoice and packing list",
      "note": "Core shipment and valuation documents.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Typical"
    },
    {
      "title": "Transport document",
      "note": "Bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note.",
      "responsible_party": "Carrier",
      "requirement": "Typical"
    },
    {
      "title": "Customs declaration",
      "note": "Filed by the importer or a customs representative.",
      "responsible_party": "Buyer / broker",
      "requirement": "Mandatory"
    },
    {
      "title": "Proof of origin",
      "note": "Needed only when claiming the preferential rate.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Conditional"
    },
    {
      "title": "Product compliance evidence",
      "note": "Depends on the product code and intended use.",
      "responsible_party": "Supplier",
      "requirement": "Conditional"
    }
  ],
  "next_actions": [
    "company_passport",
    "pre_payment_check",
    "landed_cost",
    "alternative_suppliers",
    "rfq"
  ],
  "human_page": "https://hellofapartner.com/can-i-trade/israel/united-states"
}