I have studied Economics at the graduate level (got A's by the way) so I am familiar with the Mercantilist arguments that paleo-cons such as yourself make. With respect to the falsehood you attempt to foist on us about the period 1945-1960, here are the stats. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/past_years.html We had both trade surpluses and deficits during the period 1945-1960. Here's the more recent data - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_of_payments You are confusing your experience (and memory) with the actual facts. Puting an "American label" on a product does not tell the whole story as to where the raw materials and compents which made it up came from.
There were a number of foodstuffs even then that Americans did not produce in their raw form:
1. Chocolate (cocoa beans)
2. Bananas
3. Coffee (some is grown in HI, IRRC)
4. Cola nuts
5. Chicle (sp?) for chewing gum
6. Natural rubber (not a foodstuff but grown from plants)
7. "Botique" foodstuffs (caviar, anchovies etc.)
No doubt this accounted for much of those deficits.