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Or alternatively they would simply channel their wealth back into their own economy and make their own people more wealthy. That's what's happening in the real world right now, not some bizarre 19th century imperial conquest.

Capitalism is not a zero sum game, and that's where you seem to be tripping up.

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Protectionist tariffs did, in fact, play a role in the action of the Great Depression.

Such policies, which were adopted by many countries during this time, contributed to a drastic contraction of international trade. For example, U.S. imports from Europe declined from a 1929 high of $1,334 million to just $390 million in 1932, while U.S. exports to Europe fell from $2,341 million in 1929 to $784 million in 1932. Overall, world trade declined by some 66% between 1929 and 1934.

[0] https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/protectionism

Alternately, it may be that people didn't have any money to buy stuff.

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