Friedman was not saying we should maximize imports. Instead he was saying we should maximize the ratio of imports to exports. Essentially to get as much stuff from others (imports) while paying as little as possible (via exports).

”And the proper objective for a nation as Adam Smith put it, is to arrange things so that we get as large a volume of imports as possible, for as small a volume of exports as possible.”

With that said. He appears to be arguing for colonialism. Take stuff from others and pay a pittance for it.