As a result of the ongoing disaster in Japan, General Motors suspended all nonessential spending and global travel, a GM spokesman announced.

In addition, GM will suspend production in Spain, and cancel two shifts in Germany.

Even a small supplier of products that are fed to a bigger supplier that feeds the automaker’s assembly plants can delay or halt vehicle production.

Think of the “always a bigger fish” example, but in reverse.  If there are no little fish to eat, what can the bigger fish do?