The flow of cheap goods into America has meant big things for retail, allowing companies like Wal-Mart ( WMT ) and Target ( TGT ) to cultivate a culture where American consumer count on paying very little for a wide variety of imported goods by driving down prices and maintaining paper-thin margins. That whole infrastructure is turned on its head if so significant a trade barrier is erected. Even in the unlikely event that domestic industries actually begin replacing foreign companies in areas like textiles or electronics, it would take years to get manufacturing operations up and running in the states, and it will mean a big increase in price.