Anti-American sanctions

[jjf2003]

What would happen if the whole of Europe, or indeed the rest of the world, agreed to impose economic sanctions against the USA? Imagine further if we all agreed on mutual defence should the USA threaten military action. What could they do?

[WaldoMcFroog]

The first thing that would happen would be that the US would also put in place counter-sanctions. There would then likely be considerable diplomatic traffic from both seeking to offer concessions in order to repeal some of the sanctions. This situation might become the defacto norm, in which case, the propoganda machines of both sides would kick in and we would most likely end up in a situation not dissimilar to the Cold War.

In the real world, there's not much that Europe could withold that would seriously hurt the US, apart from perhaps, being a market for their goods. Ultimately, they are self-reliant for food and fuel, whereas we might feel the pinch considerably more... We'd all have to move onto Linux, for a start!

[bobbobley]

we'd have to start drinking Virgin cola! don't do it...

[darth vader]

knowing the yank method of subtlety they would threaten us (the rest of the world) with nukes. Or try to remove Tony Blair on the grounds of WMD, no regime change, no human rights issues, oh well whatever excuse they think of on the day. (the sun wasn't shining / they called us yankee thickos, that sort of thing)

[rock1873]

We would then be foprced to drink Barr's Irn Bru (lovely stuff !!!1)

[cardinal]

So will Europe take on the burden of foriegn aid which the USA gives out every year.You can also say goodbye to the United Nations which the USA funds and they only need a good enough excuse.

[darth vader]

United nations funded by the US of wide America? what planet are you on? they hold back their "contribution" to make ransom demands and are constantly being fined squillions for late/non payment of subscriptions (sounds like a record club dunnit?)

[JohnPPotts]

The prospect of a full scale trade war between Europe and America would be very serious, if not catastrophic - the Great Depression may have been kicked off by the Wall Street (Stock Market) Crash, but what made it so prolonged was the resort to protectionism around the World, causing mass unemployment (and not incidentally, the rise of Hitler in Germany) - and that was without deliberately trying to hurt foreigners, simply to protect home markets. Any economic sanctions would presumably be targeted to do most damage.

[archbishop]

You actually think the nations of Europe(never mind the rest of the world) would agree to bankrupt themselves?

[jjf2003]

America is only one country. If the rest of the world simply ignored it and got on with trading among themselves, why should that hurt the rest of us? If the rest of the planet decided to ostracise Iceland or Azarbaizhan, would it upset the rest of the world? No. So why should ostracising USA have such a catastrophic effect?

[archbishop]

Because it is the largest economy in the world.After WW1 Germany was cut off from the rest of the world with catastrophic effects.

[darklar]

the US are self sufficient and provide alot to the rest of the world - especially Europe.plus I think the US has leant alot of money to many countries across the world - including Britain...not sure how much we owe - but its loads 8 maybe 9 pounds.

[thekraut]

Really? so what cars - and i'm talking about real cars here - would the self-sufficient american drive? just one example out of many