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Values matter much less than what's imported. For a simple example, imagine a country chose to restrict another country's access to luxury technology, clothes, and vehicles. And the other country chose to respond by restricting the former country's access to food, fertilizer, and gas. It's not hard to see who's going to win this trade war, even though the luxury goods almost certainly have a far higher nominal $ value.

GDP, and especially fraction of GDP is a useless metrics. Food is 2% of GDP, energy barely more, I guarantee that if that fraction becomes 0, you won't loose 2% of your economy.

I think you missed the point of the article.

Ok, USA trade isn’t vital you say (disagree, but let’s go with it). The USA is has outsourced aluminum, steel, a lot of composite production. Even if you wanted to spool more up, we lack the ability to make chips, we lack the rare earth metals that China took world control over.

Even if USA isn’t massively dependent on paper - the practical effects of that 25/38% makes 100% of our capability happen.