One, US has been the largest buyer of imported goods. As much as people think turning away is difficult and needs planning.
Two, turning away requires time and planning. Supply chain isn't built in one day. People need time for that.
In the short term - like next 3-4 years - it is going to look like countries caved. But in the long term Liberation Day will be remembered as one of the days which put a nail into the American exceptionalism.
ultimately the US is buying stuff, but its the stuff thats actually valuable and not the USD you get from it. its even easier to move when you cant even buy oil from the gulf anymore, whether in USD or otherwise.
the supply chain problem arrived in trump 1's covid disaster, and hasnt exactly been solved for getting stuff to the US again
There are still more fundamental materials markets that will take years/decades to move away from but that is already happening.
More broadly however, the question that I think everyone should ponder on is, "If the US falls as the world super power, do you think the alternative will be better?"
A huge part of the US's spending is on the military and that is used to stabilize global trade, that is so that the USD is still THE major currency. But recent moves looks like they are trying to keep that while also kicking out the struts that hold up the entire system. It is very illogical, maybe there is a bigger plan but somehow I don't think there is.
Perhaps not, but if you just accept every abuse thrown at you, pretty soon the USA will be just as tyrannical as China. Sometimes having the self-respect to stand up for yourself is more important than the costs.
At the very least, if the US falls as a super power, it seems like we are heading to a tri-polar world (china, EU, USA), at least in the near to medium term. Its not like someone else is going to take over as the sole super power.
The whole 'security' was by intimidation, there is no actual meat on that bone.
The US is already behaving the way we expected China would if they become the king of the hill.
Pax Americana used to guarantee peace, prosperity and nuclear nonproliferation for the countries participating in it. Now we get threats of invasion, threats of being left to fend for our selves, cozying up to a country that is literally trying to conquer our neighbors.
I don’t think it’s anymore a question of _if_, the old world is gone and not coming back.
The WH is running 'wars by executive order' - neither the population nor Congress support it.
I don't think he could every in a million years justify invading anywhere.
Only 'doing stuff from afar, with the air force and special operations' - at most.
We'll have to find out if he loses Congress in a few months, that may make things nary impossible.
The 'real test' for this entire thing is 'what happens after'.
Does the US go back to something recognizable?
Forever MAGA?
Remember - this stuff is not historically abnormal, granted, it took 2 world wars to get us to behave.
It depends on the 10 years after Trump is gone.
It could get worse, it could get better.
If countries of the world decide to trade among themselves, their economies are going to be a lot smaller.