Imports from China have grown from 0.9 billion US$ in 2000, to US$ 6.2 billion in 2010, compared to US$4.7B Dollars in 2009. 23.1% of goods manufactured in China were imported via third countries.

Israel is the first non-South American country to sign an FTA with the bloc.With the agreement, bilateral trade is expected to increase threefold in the next five years

Israel is the first country outside South America to sign a free trade agreement with the regional Mercosur bloc. Brazilian President Lula da Silva visted Israel last week

The decision to ratify the FTA at this time was made in honor of the state visit of President Peres to the South American country

El Al will operate three non-stop flights a week to Brazil, using Boeing 777 aircraft for the 14 hour and 45 minute flight

The deal was announced during a two-day summit of Mercosur leaders in the Uruguayan capital

The goal is to try to reach an agreement by the year-end. Mercosur is the largest trade bloc in Latin America, and includes Brazil, one of the world’s ten largest economies

Diplomatic sources in Israel believe that the sudden cancellation was triggered by mounting pressure from local pro-Arab business groups in Brazil and Argentina