MEH
I'm not sure when meh became a word but I like it
Why MEH?
I have carried on many times when posting about my History Book Club. I’ve learned so much and the best thing about it is the different points of view. Our founder has often shared his perspective on what a good history book NEEDS. One of those elements is a good map. I happen to enjoy economics as a good way to explain the world at times. Of course, I would not have stuck with the club for as long as I have unless I also enjoyed history. MEH means Maps, Economics & History.
Maps, Economics & History
So on Inauguration Day, I was reminded how I was going to hear the word tariff a lot in the next four years. I am neutral on the word. Not sure I love it but I’m certain I don’t hate it. I know I have never made a list of my favorite words — I am sure, however, if I did, tariff would not make the list. If you want to hear about why tariffs is a beautiful word, click here.
Maps
So this part of the post is maybe fun. Part of the post is inspired by a fellow Substacker who has committed to not use her phone while on public transportation. I ask you do the same. Using Google will spoil this. Later on in the comments share with me how you did. So there are 12 countries in South America. It is probably too grand of a leap for you to know where they are located so I’m just wondering how my my audience thinks they can name. Here is a map if you are a visual person. All of the non-white spots on the maps are real countries. Only two of the white ones are actually countries — the rest are territories or places a handful of countries have not gotten around to giving their freedom just yet. If you don’t want to play (spoil sport) you can skip ahead I guess.
Life Is Short — Make Some Local Friends
Before we continue, congratulations to any of you who were able to name 10 of the countries of South America — that is amazing. If you actually knew their location, I am in awe. It is not necessary to love every one of your close neighbors but getting along with them seems sensible. In the year 2000, every single one of the twelve countries in South America had the United States as their #1 trading partner. This brings me to our second question. Of these 12 countries, how many of them do you think still have the US as their #1 trading partner? Bonus points to the bold among you who think you can name some of them!!! By the way we are moving along with MEH since who we trade with is about friendships, relationships and comparative advantage. This is what ECONOMICS is all about. Living in Minnesota I am fully aware that even if I figured how to grow mangoes, no one is looking to buy Minnesota mangoes. There are definitely better spots in the world to grow them. Who doesn’t love a mango?
A Little Bit of History
So now it is time for some recent history. I mentioned that in 2000 all of the countries of South America counted the US as their #1 trading partner. I think that is a pretty good story. Besides if you are growing mangoes and have a country to the north that wants to buy them, that seems smart instead of trying to find some faraway place to sell the ones you cannot eat.
From the question I asked in the last section, something very disturbing has been happening in our part of the world recently. There is an old joke that I enjoy that I am not going to clean up or it will dilute the effect.
When you go to a party and at the end of the evening you conclude that everyone at the party was sort of an asshole, the best conclusion is, you are the asshole.
So the answer to the previous question is that only one country in South America remains as our #1 trading partner. It is the pink one on the map (Colombia). Since we are coming up on Valentine’s Day, it is likely if you purchase some flowers they came from Colombia. They are a large provider of cut flowers and coffee. Two things we seem to enjoy in America. I’m glad we have a friend with great coffee and flowers! Comparative advantage...
What Happened To The Eleven Other Countries?
Something has been happening since the year 2000 and in the mid-2010s it has started to get MUCH worse. All of our neighbors seem to be finding a better place to trade with. If it is a next door neighbor that makes sense. In fact, the United States counts Canada and Mexico as our largest trading partners. That seems pretty good to me. Maybe if many of them had Brazil, a regional power as #1 that might be sensible. It is after all what shaped America’s trading relationships with its South American neighbors for a long time.
Since President Trump came into office a couple of weeks ago he has picked a fight so far with four countries (1) Colombia (2) Canada (3) Mexico and (4) China. What all of these countries have in common is they are all top trading partners with the United States.
Staying On Track
There are LOTS of other countries in Central America, North America and the Caribbean. I think it is about 38 in all in the Western Hemisphere. That would have made for an overwhelming map quiz so I thought South America alone might be fun. This, however, is not exactly a happy story. You see of the countries in all of the Western Hemisphere, America has been losing trading partners and friends at an alarming rate. It turns out that the only countries in the Western Hemisphere where America retains a #1 trading partner relationship with is Canada, Mexico and Colombia. It is time to cue the joke again.
When you go to a party and at the end of the evening you conclude that everyone at the party was sort of an asshole, the best conclusion is you are the asshole.
Trade Can Be a Metaphor For Friendship
You don’t have to be nice to your neighbors but it helps. That might be what finding common ground is. Many years ago I enjoyed the book “Getting to Yes”. It was about negotiation. Negotiation is about compromise and finding a way for both parties to win. If you think negotiation is just about getting your way all of the time — You might be the asshole.
America Can Be a Force for Good in the World
After WWII, America was in a position of conquest. It could have chosen to part out the world the way every conqueror in the name of religion or monarch or president or autocrat had done before. America chose to sacrifice to create a better world. It required sacrifice but it also made things better for Americans also. America is not perfect. However, the arc of history since 1945 during the Cold War has always felt, at least to me, that America was in it for more than just themselves. I don’t think we were the asshole.
The post Cold-War has begun to emerge, at least in the eyes of some as a challenge between the US and China. I believe, judged by our past America offers a path. I also believe through friendship, compromise and getting to yes, we can offer an example that makes sense to other nations. I think it can start with don’t be an asshole.
What Would Be Some Good Signs?
Here in 2025, 35/38 countries in the Western Hemisphere are not a #1 trading partner with the United States. I think we make some cool stuff and are open to trying new things. I’m not sure how this happened. I suppose if you go to a party and there are 38 people there and you only know 3 of them, the easy thing to do is to go mix with the people you know. Getting reacquainted with one of the many you have fallen out of touch with might be even better. Finally, if there is one real loud man or woman in the corner who is kinda funny but says some pretty crass stuff, stick with reacquainting yourself with someone else. You may just reignite a friendship.
Totally different from what I expected of MEH, Mark. I loved this post.
I didn't know how our trade relationship with South America has changed, very interesting, indeed.
The reference to Getting To Yes reminded me of an excellent book that you might enjoy - Getting To Maybe. It was co-written by a professor of mine at the U of Minnesota in program evaluation, Michael Quinn Patton (a 2007 book). Fittingly, it is about changing the world. Not a textbook, it is very readable and wise.
P.S. I got the SA countries right, but not the territories.
My geography is so shamefully bad that I didn’t even try to identify any countries on the map, but your piece did cause me to look up the answers and to think about the sad reality that we’re no longer top trading partners with so many countries in South America. Your point about the importance of making local friends makes sense for both individuals and countries. I’m not sure what the upside is to dissing your neighbors and then attempting to bully them into giving you what you want. As you point out, a different strategy worked to our benefit following the Second World War. Thanks for another provocative read Mark.