Question on import reliance on raw materials, critical stuff

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

A subject I haven't read much about is how susceptible the U.S. is to cutoffs or shortages of critical imports. So far I've only heard about oil, hybrid seeds, and (from some time ago) ball bearings from Brasil. But certainly there must be other imports that are critical to manufacturing or certain industries. Can anyone think of some of these other critical imports of certain raw materials or whatever that are likely to be affected? What does the Pentagon and CIA know about these things that we could find out about too? What other fragile linchpins are out there that we haven't heard about?

-- bd (wantto@know.more), March 05, 1999

Answers

Autoparts Machine tools microchips textiles clothing of all kinds chromium (I believe) pharmeceuticals and raw materials

-- Jon Williamson (pssomerville@sprintmail.com), March 05, 1999.

Put "Imports" in your "Find" button box, look for thread re what we get from where, day or so ago, added to almost daily by

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), March 05, 1999.

Trade with China will most likely come to a halt, because ships cannot navigate with screwy computers. I recently bought 10 years worth of shoes at Shopco. All were on sale from $10 to $12.50 Also engine oil will be scarce. I bought 6 cases and one case of automatic transmission oil. I bought several winter coats on sale at Mervins a month ago including gloves and hats.

Bikes will also become scarce, because most of them are imported. Be sure to get extra tires, innertubes and a couple of pumps. There will be a lot of theft during Y2K. I bought an extra bike!

I bought a couple of solar battery chargers and rechargable batteries at Home Depot. Emergency Essentials in Orem, Utah sells the solar battery chargers. Put their name in your search engines. I will be fully prepared for Y2K and I'm planning to have a great time NOT WORKING!!!

-- Freddie the Freeloader (freddie@aol.com), March 06, 1999.


Consider this:

U.S. Mineral Materials Ranked by Net Import Reliance - 1997

(source National Mining Association)

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), March 06, 1999.


close
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-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), March 06, 1999.


turn off.. italics

-- Arnie (Tired) Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), March 06, 1999.

See Senate Committee Hearing posts on this forum yesterday.

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 06, 1999.

Previous thread on this topic:

Imports: What do we get from where? at http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000Yis

-- No Spam Please (No_Spam_Please@anon_ymous.com), March 06, 1999.


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