Britain was not importing. Britain was stealing resources from India. It was beyond slavery. The words plunder and pillage come to mind.

USA on the other hand has a completely different problem (perhaps opposite of what you describe - being the world’s gracious and benevolent trade partner).

Other countries trade with the US in order to avoid their wrath.

And now it's apparent that even being a great ally will result in economic attacks.

So the world gives the US tangible goods. In exchange they get shittalked and more demanded of them.