Import$ and Export$

Finland is not shy when it comes to importing and exporting goods from other countries. In fact, Finland is the 36th biggest exporter of goods in the world and shipped out a recorded 96.6 billion dollars worth in 2008. In that same year, Finland imported approximately 87.5 billion worth of foreign goods into the country Finland's Top Imports & Exports 2008: Petroleum and Paper Products are Leading Finnish Exports to US http://import-export.suite101.com/article.cfm/finlands_top_imports_exports_2008#ixzz0eEEOxPGH. Imports into Finland are often food products and produce due to the fact that Finland experiences a long harsh winter with only a small window of time to grow native cultivations. Other than food, Finish people actually have a market for American automobiles and import cars such as Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet from America. American automobile imports into Finland have risen since 2007 and account for a 1.4 billion dollar total for this year, plus a 130.5 million dollars worth of American civilian aircrafts imported into Finland for commercial use. Finland’s number one natural resource and export comes from its large and dense tree forests in the North. In paper alone, Finland exported 737.4 million dollars worth of paper products to the United States while importing no amount of goods of this category into Finland http://importexport.suite101.com/article.cfm/finlands_top_imports_exports_2008.

Finland is considered the 33rd richest country in 2008 by the CIA World Fact Book. I find it impressive that Finland can capitalize so much from their natural resources and spend zero dollars importing goods they already produce such as in the paper example. I feel that importing from other nations is useful; however, over using this tactic can result in over spending and a loss in job opportunities. Perhaps the United States has relied too heavily on outsourcing jobs and products to other countries when we could have satisfied the need within our own borders. Demonstrating how Finland imported zero dollars worth of paper products but exported 737.4 million to the United States is an ideal example of utilizing resources. I wonder what products in the United States could be/are completely independent from foreign import.