[Alberta's Child]

We also had severe rationing of raw materials during World War II. One reason for that rationing was that we faced shortages of materials that had previously been imported from parts of the world that ended up in hostile hands (rubber is a good example of this).

I may be wrong about this, but I believe the notion that the U.S. was a self-sufficient nation before World War II is a myth.

[dennisw]

I may be wrong about this, but I believe the notion that the U.S. was a self-sufficient nation before World War II is a myth.

You believe a lot of things. What I remember is trade being 5% of our economy back then
Would a rational person call that self sufficient? Ask yourself that

[texastoo]

Coffee and tea was some of our first imports and we are still importing them. Note this was a he!! of a long time before free trade agreements. Free traders did not invent trade!