reply China has become Britain's largest source of imports

The total value of goods trade between the UK and non-EU countries (including imports and exports) exceeded that of EU countries in the first quarter of 2021 (January to March), while China overtook Germany to become the largest source of imports to the UK, according to new data released by the Office for National Statistics on May 25.Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the total value of goods trade between the UK and EU countries, including imports and exports, fell by 23.1 percent in the first three months of 2021 compared with the first quarter of 2018; Trade with countries outside the European Union fell just 0.8% over the same period.Since the second quarter of 2020 (April to June), the UK has imported more goods from China than from any other country, and the trend has been on the rise. By the first quarter of 2021, goods imported from China accounted for 16.1% of the UK's total imports, an increase of 65.6% compared with the first quarter of 2018.China has overtaken Germany to become the UK's largest import market for the first time since the Office for National Statistics began keeping records in 1997. Partly as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the UK has increased demand for Chinese textiles used in making face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE).Imports from China were also boosted by increased demand for Chinese electrical goods (communications and audio equipment) during the quarantine.Germany had been Britain's biggest import market until now, except for a six-month period in late 2000 and early 2001, when Britain bought more goods from the US. The ONS said imports of goods from Germany have fallen since April 2019, which coincides with increased uncertainty caused by Brexit and the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.