No. of Recommendations: 3
In general though, if we learned ANYTHING during the supply chain lockups during COVID, it should have been that there is some theoretical minimum set of "stuff" whose production would likely best remain on domestic shores to ensure access and steady supplies in the event of an extended interruption in international shipping.
Absolutely. That was my point. Albaby is correct that -perhaps- a Japanese company buying an American company wouldn't pose a problem. But a lot of steel has already left our shores. The behemoth "Bessie" is long gone, for example. And, as you say, no one plant is going to make the variety of metals we need for military (and other) purposes. The Japanese may not want to make the steel we need at the US Steel plants, and that would be a Japanese corporate decision that is beyond our control.
We should assume that China is going to get more aggressive, and that the Suez will be unavailable. If that doesn't happen, great! But we should be prepared for it all the same.