Many appliances were American-made, but others were imported from countries such as Japan, South Korea, Mexico, China, and Taiwan
In the mid-1990s about 98 percent of all major appliances, except microwave ovens, were American-made. Smaller appliances such as coffee makers, food processors, and toasters, were often imported from Europe
In the late 1990s, 190.8 million pairs of men's shoes were imported into the United States
In the mid-1990s cooking appliance trends continued to emphasize cleanability, convenience, and sophisticated design, with a growing concern for energy efficiency. Major manufacturers focused on improving the overall product with new engineering
In the late 1990s, about 12 percent of the dimension and flooring used in the United States was imported
The leading export markets for U.S. appliances were Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. Exports to Canada increased during the 1990s after tariffs were removed on appliances
The process began to accelerate in the 1970s and, by the 1990s, imports had reached all-time highs.
Approximately 92 percent of shoes sold in the United States in the late 1990s were made abroad
The United States imported a total of $650 billion worth of relays and controls annually in the early 1990s, more than 40 percent of which came from Japan.
The United States imported most switchgear industry products in the late 1990s from Mexico.
The leading markets for American appliances were Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, respectively. The lowering of tariffs in the early 1990s led to significant increases in exports to Canada and Mexico
Some countries that experienced political unrest in the 1990s include Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, and Russia. These conflicts ranged from civil wars and genocides to political upheavals and revolutions.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, consumers tended to conduct research, often on the Internet, before they invested in major appliances