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Whenever the United States gets mad at another country, you can always count on average citizens to do what they can to support the effort. Anyone around in 2003, when the Bush administration was building its case for invading Iraq, remembers how the pro-war drums beat against, say, the French, who declined to join the so-called coalition of the willing. They were derided as "cheese-eating surrender monkeys," their wine boycotted, and who can forget the infamous "freedom fries." 


Russian Standard vodka (Photo: Wikipedia)

Today, it's Russia's turn. Although it might prove harder to do, this time. Because Russia doesn't export much. John McCain didn't call it "a gas station masquerading as a country" for nothing. 

Still, we try. This morning, the Freep reports that Total Wine & More stores in Michigan will no longer sell Russian spirits:

A post earlier Monday on the Total Wine & More Facebook page read:

"Today, this is what you will see in our stores. In support of the Ukrainian people, we have removed all Russian-made products from our shelves."

The post included a picture of an empty shelf with a sign stating that "We are no longer selling any Russian made product."

So how will this affect your Sunday bloody mary brunch? Probably not one bit. The spirit most associated with Russia -- vodka -- is widely distilled elsewhere in the world, including the United States. (Shoutout to Tito's, pride of Austin, Texas.) Even brands with Russian names, like Stolichnaya and Smirnoff and Popov, are made, bottled and sold outside of Russia. Stoli is made in Latvia, Smirnoff and the notorious bottom-shelf Popov in the U.K. -- maybe.

For Russian-made vodka, you'd have to reach for Russian Standard or Beluga Noble and a few other obscure brands. 

But that's just vodka. Surely a country the size of Russia exports something to the U.S. According to the U.S. Trade Representative's office, not all that much, really:

The top import categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: mineral fuels ($13 billion), precious metal and stone (platinum) ($2.2 billion), iron and steel ($1.4 billion), fertilizers ($963 million), and inorganic chemicals ($763 million).

U.S. total imports of agricultural products from Russia totaled $69 million in 2019. Leading categories include: snack foods ($8 million), tree nuts ($6 million), other vegetable oils ($3 million), essential oils ($3 million), and other dairy products ($2 million).

U.S. imports of services from Russia were an estimated $1.8 billion in 2019, 2.2% ($38 million) more than 2018, and 50.6% less than 2009 levels. Leading services imports from Russia to the U.S. were in the transportation, travel, and financial services sectors.

Snack foods? Dairy products? Has anyone ever seen a bag of Russian pretzels or chips on a supermarket shelf? Or yogurt? 

So Michigan State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks will likely have an easy job responding to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's instructions, shared via press release because of course it was, to "hold a special meeting to divest the State of Michigan Retirement Systems pension plans from any investments in institutions or companies headquartered in Russia or that have their principal place of business in Russia."

What level-headed state treasurer would dare to put public money into a Russian investment, knowing the whole country is a kleptocracy ruled by a dictator? We'll find out, but here's betting the answer is: No one here. 

-- Nancy Derringer