Security Threats and Trade Barriers"For defense, however, is far more important than opulence..."In 1776, just as Adam Smith was championing the ideals of a free market economy, recognized that national security interests far outweighed the principles of free trade. More than two centuries later, that sentiment still proves accurate and in use. Since the early 1900s, the United States has used this precept to defend its position on trade barriers to hostile nations, and for much of the century, it was predominantly referring to the Soviet Union and its allies. Just as Adam Smith supported the Navigation Acts in Britain to protect the navy (their primary means of defense; Smith 1776:464), the United States has gone to great lengths to protect its primary means of defense: the technologically advanced sectors of the electronics and machinery. The reason for these measures has not changed over the centuries. The desire to maintain superiority over other nations and to maintain the ability to defend the nation's sovereignty has remained an important aspect of both foreign and trade policy. What interests us most in this document is trade policy. It is the United States' desire to preserve the technological superiority we have enjoyed for so long. After all, if no other nation matches our level of technology, then it greatly reduces any threat from another nation simply because we can counter anything they might threaten us with. However, if such a technological advantage cannot be maintained (and it is not, at least not for long), then it becomes necessary to maintain the ability to deal with all subsequent security threats efficiently. Smith advocated for, and the United States has implemented, the use of export barriers to ensure that crucial goods or information vital to national security does not leave the country or fall into the hands of our enemies. Although the Cold War is over and the threat that loomed over the United States and the rest of the world, which depended on U.S. military support for much of this century, has largely been eradicated, it does not mean that there are no more threats to the security of the United States. . The United States remains cautious about the volatile state Russia often appears to be in, as well as security threats from other nations such as Iraq and, to some extent, China..