Republican AGs Urge UK, Netherlands to Lift Israel Sanctions
Thirteen state attorneys general warned of trade remedies and divestment if the United Kingdom and Netherlands do not rescind sanctions targeting parts of Israel.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in International Trade
Thirteen Republican state attorneys general, led by Iowa's Brenna Bird, sent a letter to the British and Dutch ambassadors urging their governments to rescind or halt sanctions against parts of Israel. The letter warned of potential U.S. divestment and trade remedies if the measures are not dropped.
Why it matters
The United Kingdom has enacted trade sanctions targeting Israeli settlements, and the Netherlands has planned sanctions on extremist settlers, moves that the attorneys general say could impose severe economic harm on U.S. individuals and businesses. The dispute places state-level trade pressure alongside federal trade authority.
The letter was signed by 13 Republican state attorneys general, led by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and sent to the British and Dutch ambassadors on Monday. Whether the U.S. Trade Representative will pursue any action under the cited trade law remains unresolved.
The players
Brenna Bird
Brenna Bird is the Attorney General of Iowa, who led the multistate letter urging the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to rescind their sanctions.
The details
The attorneys general cited U.S. trade law allowing the USTR to pursue action against unjustifiable burdens on American commerce. The United Kingdom's sanctions target Israeli settlements and settlement expansion, while the Netherlands plans sanctions against extremist settlers and organizations that support them. Israel closed the U.K. consulate in Jerusalem and expelled several diplomats in September, and announced it would revoke the diplomatic status of Dutch envoys to the Palestinian Authority.
Timeline
September: Israel closes the U.K. consulate in Jerusalem and expels several diplomats.
Monday: Attorneys general send the letter to the British and Dutch ambassadors.
Market Dynamics
The letter invokes U.S. trade law that lets the USTR pursue action against unjustifiable burdens on American commerce, extending a foreign sanctions dispute into a possible federal trade remedy. The approach ties state-level divestment threats to that existing federal authority.
The sanctions could affect businesses that import or sell goods tied to Israeli settlements, and a London kosher wine store owner said the measures would knock out more than half of its inventory. Investors with exposure to affected importers or exporters may face disruption if U.S. trade remedies follow.
The takeaway
Trade disputes over foreign sanctions can quickly draw in state governments and federal trade authorities, so businesses with cross-border supply chains should track both the sanctioning countries' measures and any U.S. response.
Further reading
For more on how sanctions and tariffs reshape cross-border commerce, see International Trade.
