Dutch import ban on goods from Israeli settlements: where do trade obligations stand?
The ban has been in force since September 2026 and covers personal luggage and domestic trade. The EU has no equivalent ban.
Advocate, customs and trade law, Israel
Published 28 Oct 2026
Country update
Can goods banned in one EU member state still be imported into another? The question arises following the Netherlands’ recent ban on goods originating from Israeli settlements in territories it regards as occupied. Until now, the EU has only denied such goods preferential tariff treatment, without prohibiting trade in them. The article examines the scope of the Dutch ban, including its application to domestic trade, and asks whether a member state can impose such restrictions without EU-wide action, and whether they are compatible with EU law and international trade obligations.
