system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How do countries that have no natural resources and completely rely on import even survive economily?
gpt
They buy in raw materials relatively cheaply, add value by manufacturing facilities and expertise , then sell at a profit. Britain used to be known for manufactured goods based on imports from empire/Commonwealth sources.   Japan also, they are not well endowed with natural resources, one of the factors leading them into wars of conquest before and during WW2.