China overtakes US as Israel’s largest source of imports
China became Israel’s largest source of imports in 2021 with $10.7 billion, overcoming the previous top spot held by the United States, revealed Israel’s National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.
Embassy of China in Tel Aviv. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
In 2020, imports from the United States had totalled a little more than $8 billion, while China’s imports totalled nearly $7.7 billion.
Imports from the United States in 2021 were nearly $8.3 billion.
Following the United States was Switzerland with nearly $6.6 billion and Germany following close behind.
However, the United States retained its spot as the top destination for Israeli exports in 2021 with $16.2 billion.
In September, Israel opened a Chinese-operated shipping port in Haifa to increase competition and the country’s status as a trading nexus.
During a visit in August, CIA director Bill Burns reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett that the United States is concerned about Chinese investments, especially in the high-tech sector and infrastructure projects.
JNS
In my wildest imaginings I would not have thought I would ever see Israel as naive. But naive she is! Fancy allowing China operation of the port at Haifa! A port is always a vulnerable point. China seeks to ‘operate’ ports all over the world and Australia is currently seeking to reneg on the arrangement the Northern Territory made with China for a 99 year lease of the Port of Darwin.
Don’t be swallowed up by the bait of money and ‘improved economic trading’, Israel. China has its reasons for everything it does and is very, very patient. To think in this way is not paranoid, just sensible. Try to familiarise yourself with China, its history and its people and be more wary.