As US President Donald Trump resumes his on-and-off tariff crusade, the ripple effects are being felt far beyond electronics and steel. A detailed breakdown of US import data reveals a much more nuanced — and in some cases surprising — picture of America’s dependence on the global market, the New York Times reported.
Instead of just measuring which countries ship the largest volumes of goods to the US, new analysis highlights what specific items the US imports almost exclusively from individual trading partners. These products form the backbone of bilateral trade relationships and may be most vulnerable to tariff shocks — especially when the US lacks alternative suppliers.
The overlooked dependencies
For example, more than 99% of America’s live pig imports come from Canada, while nearly all imported precious metal watches come from Switzerland. Similarly, China may be broadly associated with electronics, but its most dominant product by market share is actually baby carriages — 97% of which come from there.
In some cases, entire US supply chains could be disrupted if trade with a specific country is strained. South Africa supplies 98% of chromium ore used in US industries. Indonesia sends 85% of the palm oil the US imports. Peru delivers nearly all the calcium phosphates, vital for agriculture and food processing.
These are not just random goods — they represent sectors that could face price shocks or shortages if trade ties are strained, whether by tariffs or geopolitical conflicts.
The Trump factor
President Trump’s tariff strategy has unsettled global trade flows by introducing sudden and sweeping duties. His administration has at times targeted electronics from China, cars from South Korea, and steel from the European Union. But these headline items don’t always reflect the full spectrum of American import reliance.
Now, as Trump revisits his protectionist agenda, businesses are left guessing what comes next. The imposition of tariffs on relatively obscure but crucial imports — like seed oils from Ukraine or vermouth from Italy — could quietly disrupt domestic production lines, from agriculture to pharmaceuticals.
Meanwhile, countries like Ethiopia and Madagascar are not trade giants, but they supply items like knit baby clothes and vanilla in market-dominating proportions. Their small size doesn’t insulate them from policy decisions made in Washington.
Strategic risks and trade-offs
The broader picture suggests that America’s economic resilience depends not just on raw volume but on the diversity and exclusivity of its suppliers. While China is the top source for phones, Vietnam, India, and Mexico are rising players in the same category, offering some room to manoeuvre. But for more niche goods — like cocoa paste from Côte d’Ivoire or synthetic gemstones from India — the US is exposed.
With federal prosecutors also pushing for the breakup of tech monopolies like Google, and Musk’s companies under political strain, global trade volatility adds another layer of unpredictability for American business.
The lesson from the data is clear: when trade policy shifts overnight, it’s not just factories in Beijing or Berlin that feel the impact — it’s also pig farms in Ontario, jewellery stone makers in Mumbai, and cork harvesters in Portugal.
As Trump reshapes the rules of global commerce, the quiet dependencies — the items America cannot make for itself — may turn out to be the most consequential.
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