Yes. Apart from the price of petrol, the fact that the US Navy dominates sealanes in Indian ocean gives the US enormous leverage over Japan, China and Europe.
-A very important point, of course. The ability to control/interdict sea routes is crucial to any power searching for global hegemony, and Europe must understand this it if they are to challenge the USA.
Yes, but I think the distinction between the internal market and external markets has been considerably eroded, given dismantling of import controls, lowering of tariffs, floating exchange rates, regional free trade blocks.
-You´re right, but still wer have lots of differences between external and internal market prices, and labor value also varies wildly, which results in very different prices in nominal dollars, for many goods.
Alexandre
--- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.558 / Virus Database: 350 - Release Date: 02/01/04