Hypothetical trade question

[_Jumper_]

How much would stopping all foreign trade harm the American economy? I am not advocating this, I ask this out of sheer curiosity.

[thebigidea]

1. we'd be unscathed! We don't need the world, we're AMERICANS!

we'd survive for years on our own arrogance!

[Warpy]

2. No parts

...for new cars or broken old cars, no computer components, no consumer electronics, no coffee, chocolate or fresh veggies in the winter, no ready made clothing or fabric with which to make it ourselves, no new shoes, limited pharmaceuticals at even more inflated prices as the reagents to make them with dry up, little fuel for electric plants and passenger cars and long haul trucks and delivery vans....

Face it, this country exported its ability to care for itself decades ago. If Bush gets us into any kind of major war, we're totally SOL.

[denverbill]

3. It would obliterate it.

69% of our oil is imported.

[_Jumper_]

5. Oh yeah

I forgot about oil!

[Gulf Coast J]

4. It would hurt greatly

We export over a trillion dollars worth of goods and services each year. We import over $1.3 trillion in goods and services each year. A tenth of the US economy would stop existing. The affect on the rest of the world, especially countries that rely on the US to sell its goods (Canada and Mexico) would be even more devastating.

Of course, some industries would make out like bandits (steel, autos, textiles, avacado growers) because of lack of international competition. But most people and the economy as a whole would be much worse off.

[_Jumper_]

6. Thanks for the responses

n/t