4 ms·

America buys from China, Brazil, Russia, and Iran even though we have not always had the best relationships.

EA-3167 2y ago
The US cut its total trade with Russia from $16B in 2019, down to $2B in 2024. The US did this in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, because it saw the absurdity of arming the Ukrainians while funding the Russians. Europe on the other hand still wants cheap oil and gas, and that seems to be a priority over the welfare of Ukrainians who they claim to want to protect. As for China Brazil and Iran... Well lets break this down. Iran: Total trade volume is in range of $65 million, virtually all US exports TO Iran. Virtually all of the US exports to Iran are medicines, medical devices, vaccines, and similar things. It's not about making money, it's humanitarian. Brazil: This was a weird choice, I get that you just went with "BRICS", but Brazil isn't invading any neighbors or considered a hostile state in the US. China: Again, while there are emerging tensions and divides, it's also true that China and the US have strong economic ties. Trade between these countries amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars, and there's no pretense of ending that. All in all there's not much of a comparison to trade with Russia.
- uberman 2y ago
  I thought the point was the absurdity of trade with your adversaries. Why is it bad with Europe does it but fine when the US does it? Surely we could have eliminated all trade with Iran if we wanted, but the reality is we don't want to just like Europe does not want to stop trading for Energy with Russia.
  - EA-3167 2y ago
    If the point was about trade with adversaries why include Brazil? Anyway the point is about taking a side in a WAR and then maintaining lucrative trade with the side in that war you're against. I don't think it's hard to understand the difference between that, and trading with countries you simply don't get along with all of the time, like China.
    - uberman 2y ago
      My apologies about Brazil, I was thinking of Venezuela. The USA took a side in the Russian war and yet still traded with Russia. They took a side against Iran and many other contemporary Adversaries yet still maintained trade or worse gave away aid even when they did not have formal diplomatic relationships. Europe is not "at war" with Russia, at least not yet and neither is the USA yet both maintained trade with Russia in the face of sanctions.

The US cut its total trade with Russia from $16B in 2019, down to $2B in 2024. The US did this in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, because it saw the absurdity of arming the Ukrainians while funding the Russians. Europe on the other hand still wants cheap oil and gas, and that seems to be a priority over the welfare of Ukrainians who they claim to want to protect. As for China Brazil and Iran... Well lets break this down. Iran: Total trade volume is in range of $65 million, virtually all US exports TO Iran. Virtually all of the US exports to Iran are medicines, medical devices, vaccines, and similar things. It's not about making money, it's humanitarian. Brazil: This was a weird choice, I get that you just went with "BRICS", but Brazil isn't invading any neighbors or considered a hostile state in the US. China: Again, while there are emerging tensions and divides, it's also true that China and the US have strong economic ties. Trade between these countries amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars, and there's no pretense of ending that. All in all there's not much of a comparison to trade with Russia.

uberman 2y ago
I thought the point was the absurdity of trade with your adversaries. Why is it bad with Europe does it but fine when the US does it? Surely we could have eliminated all trade with Iran if we wanted, but the reality is we don't want to just like Europe does not want to stop trading for Energy with Russia.
- EA-3167 2y ago
  If the point was about trade with adversaries why include Brazil? Anyway the point is about taking a side in a WAR and then maintaining lucrative trade with the side in that war you're against. I don't think it's hard to understand the difference between that, and trading with countries you simply don't get along with all of the time, like China.
  - uberman 2y ago
    My apologies about Brazil, I was thinking of Venezuela. The USA took a side in the Russian war and yet still traded with Russia. They took a side against Iran and many other contemporary Adversaries yet still maintained trade or worse gave away aid even when they did not have formal diplomatic relationships. Europe is not "at war" with Russia, at least not yet and neither is the USA yet both maintained trade with Russia in the face of sanctions.