The #1 trade partner for Israel should become the USA. Not Europe, not China or Russia. Both are hostile to Israel. Why privilege the EU, Russia and China products? This must change.
The USA and many other pro-Israel states (all those states that have opened their embassy in Jerusalem) have everything Israel needs.
Israel should impose tariffs on hostile entities like the EU or China and put a stark preference for the USA and all the other pro-Israel states. Now, let us look into the facts from a decade perspective
USA – Israel Trade (20213 – 2023)
The USA have maintained a consistent trade deficit with Israel every year from 2013 to 2023, meaning imports from Israel have consistently exceeded exports to Israel. The deficit peaked in 2015 at -$10.4 billion and was smallest in 2019 at -$5.1 billion. The US deficit has generally hovered between -$5 billion and -$10 billion over the decade.
- 2013
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $13.8 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $22.9 billion
- Trade Balance: -$9.1 billion
- 2014
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $15.0 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $23.0 billion
- Trade Balance: -$8.0 billion
- 2015
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $13.6 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $24.0 billion
- Trade Balance: -$10.4 billion
- 2016
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $13.2 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $22.2 billion
- Trade Balance: -$9.0 billion
- 2017
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $12.6 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $21.9 billion
- Trade Balance: -$9.3 billion
- 2018
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $9.93 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $20.7 billion
- Trade Balance: -$10.77 billion
- 2019
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $14.4 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $19.5 billion
- Trade Balance: -$5.1 billion
- 2020
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $11.8 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $17.5 billion
- Trade Balance: -$5.7 billion
- 2021
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $12.8 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $20.8 billion
- Trade Balance: -$8.0 billion
- 2022
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $14.2 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $21.5 billion
- Trade Balance: -$7.3 billion
- 2023
- U.S. Exports to Israel: $14.03 billion
- U.S. Imports from Israel: $20.3 billion
- Trade Balance: -$6.27 billion
In sum, we see a cumulated deficit of $83.24 billion. Now let us now take a look at the trade balance between the EU and Israel. A totally different picture.
EU – Israel Trade (2013 – 2023)
The EU has maintained a trade surplus with Israel every year from 2013 to 2023, with exports consistently exceeding imports by a significant margin. EU exports to Israel peaked in 2021 at $32.1 billion, reflecting post-pandemic recovery, while imports from Israel remained relatively stable, peaking at $18.5 billion in 2018.
- 2013
- EU Exports to Israel: $28.6 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $17.0 billion
- Trade Balance: +$11.6 billion
- 2014
- EU Exports to Israel: $29.1 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $17.4 billion
- Trade Balance: +$11.7 billion
- 2015
- EU Exports to Israel: $27.0 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $16.8 billion
- Trade Balance: +$10.2 billion
- 2016
- EU Exports to Israel: $27.8 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $17.5 billion
- Trade Balance: +$10.3 billion
- 2017
- EU Exports to Israel: $28.9 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $18.1 billion
- Trade Balance: +$10.8 billion
- 2018
- EU Exports to Israel: $30.2 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $18.5 billion
- Trade Balance: +$11.7 billion
- 2019
- EU Exports to Israel: $30.5 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $17.8 billion
- Trade Balance: +$12.7 billion
- 2020
- EU Exports to Israel: $27.9 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $15.6 billion
- Trade Balance: +$12.3 billion
- 2021
- EU Exports to Israel: $32.1 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $17.9 billion
- Trade Balance: +$14.2 billion
- 2022
- EU Exports to Israel: $30.4 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $18.4 billion
- Trade Balance: +
- Trade Balance: +$12.0 billion
- 2023
- EU Exports to Israel: $29.7 billion
- EU Imports from Israel: $18.0 billion
- Trade Balance: +$11.7 billion
In sum, the very hostile EU gained from Israel a surplus of $129.2 billion. Now, let us take a look at the balance between China and Israel.
China – Israel Trade (2013 – 2023)
China has maintained a trade surplus with Israel every year from 2013 to 2023, with exports consistently exceeding imports by a significant margin. China’s exports to Israel nearly doubled from $8.11 billion in 2013 to $14.99 billion in 2023, growing at an annualized rate of approximately 6.3% over the decade. Imports from Israel grew more slowly, from $3.02 billion in 2013 to $7.09 billion in 2023, with a notable jump in 2023 (up from $4.63 billion in 2022). The trade surplus for China grew from $5.09 billion in 2013 to $7.90 billion in 2023, peaking at $8.52 billion in 2022.
- 2013
- China Exports to Israel: $8.11 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $3.02 billion
- Trade Balance: +$5.09 billion
- 2014
- China Exports to Israel: $8.45 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $3.28 billion
- Trade Balance: +$5.17 billion
- 2015
- China Exports to Israel: $8.92 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $3.45 billion
- Trade Balance: +$5.47 billion
- 2016
- China Exports to Israel: $9.01 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $3.61 billion
- Trade Balance: +$5.40 billion
- 2017
- China Exports to Israel: $9.47 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $3.88 billion
- Trade Balance: +$5.59 billion
- 2018
- China Exports to Israel: $10.5 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $4.97 billion
- Trade Balance: +$5.53 billion
- 2019
- China Exports to Israel: $11.2 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $4.85 billion
- Trade Balance: +$6.35 billion
- 2020
- China Exports to Israel: $10.8 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $4.62 billion
- Trade Balance: +$6.18 billion
- 2021
- China Exports to Israel: $13.1 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $5.31 billion
- Trade Balance: +$7.79 billion
- 2022
- China Exports to Israel: $13.15 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $4.63 billion
- Trade Balance: +$8.52 billion
- 2023
- China Exports to Israel: $14.99 billion
- China Imports from Israel: $7.09 billion
- Trade Balance: +$7.90 billion
In sum, Israel has a cumulated trade deficit with China of $68.99 billion. And last, but not least, let us take a look at the trade balance between Russia and Israel.
Russia – Israel Trade (2013/2023)
Similar picture: Russia has maintained a trade surplus with Israel every year from 2013 to 2023, with exports consistently exceeding imports by a significant margin.
- 2013
- Russia Exports to Israel: $2.80 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.74 billion
- Trade Balance: +$2.06 billion
- 2014
- Russia Exports to Israel: $3.10 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.82 billion
- Trade Balance: +$2.28 billion
- 2015
- Russia Exports to Israel: $2.50 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.68 billion
- Trade Balance: +$1.82 billion
- 2016
- Russia Exports to Israel: $2.20 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.65 billion
- Trade Balance: +$1.55 billion
- 2017
- Russia Exports to Israel: $2.40 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.71 billion
- Trade Balance: +$1.69 billion
- 2018
- Russia Exports to Israel: $4.83 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.76 billion
- Trade Balance: +$4.07 billion
- 2019
- Russia Exports to Israel: $3.90 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.70 billion
- Trade Balance: +$3.20 billion
- 2020
- Russia Exports to Israel: $3.20 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.62 billion
- Trade Balance: +$2.58 billion
- 2021
- Russia Exports to Israel: $3.50 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.67 billion
- Trade Balance: +$2.83 billion
- 2022
- Russia Exports to Israel: $2.90 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.65 billion
- Trade Balance: +$2.25 billion
- 2023
- Russia Exports to Israel: $2.05 billion
- Russia Imports from Israel: $0.55 billion
- Trade Balance: +$1.50 billion
In sum, Israel has with Russia a cumulated trade deficit of $25.83
Conclusion
If we summarize the cumulated deficits which Israel has with those three rather hostile and antisemitic entities – the EU, China, and Russia – we see a whopping trade deficit of $224.02 billion.
There are no products which Israel can’t obtain from the USA, which is a steadfast ally that neither the EU, Russia, nor China ever was and is. Quite the opposite. It is insane that Israel feeds hostile, respectively, antisemitic states.
If Israel is asking what it can contribute to the fight against antisemitism, the answer is clear: Buy from your allies.
Israel’s top trade partners should be, in the first place, the USA, then India (if India opens its embassy in Jerusalem), and then the rest of the pro-Israel states.
And if we look at the cumulated trade volume of the EU, Russia and China (2013 -2023), it is obvious that Israel has to alter the track. It can’t be that Israel is supporting all the hostile antisemitic states. No wonder Israel is losing traction. If you finance your enemies, no surprise.
Summary of Cumulative Trade Volumes (2013–2023)
- European Union (EU): $515.2 billion
- China: $166.41 billion
- Russia: $40.93 billion
So, we speak of a trade volume of $719.54 billion, which can be totally redistributed to our allies and friends (the USA and all those who have an embassy in Jerusalem). Israel should do it. And if Israel has a deficit, it is better to have a $224.02 billion deficit with allies and friends than with enemies and hostile states.
PS: And by the way, the socialist-styled ‘exclusive importer system’ should be abolished. Not needed. Just keeps the cost of living in Israel high.
Based on my research, deploying Google and Grok and good old-fashioned handwork. First published on the 30th of March.