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Realism and Postwar US Trade Policy

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  • John Kunkel

Abstract

This paper examines the credentials of the realist approach to international political economy as explanatory theory of postwar US trade policy. It argues that the realist link between international structure, US national trade interest and policy outcome is not strong. Empirical anomalies are identified in terms of both the general openness of US policy and the sectoral pattern of protection. The realist approach to explaining US trade policy suffers from the twin problems of a high level of policy indeterminacy and the theoretical neglect of state–society relations crucial to domestic trade preference formation.

Suggested Citation

  • John Kunkel, 1998. "Realism and Postwar US Trade Policy," Asia Pacific Economic Papers 285, Australia-Japan Research Centre, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    • Handle: RePEc:csg:ajrcau:285
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    File URL: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/pdf/pep/pep-285.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gary Clyde Hufbauer & Kimberly Ann Elliott, 1994. "Measuring the Costs of Protection in the United States," Peterson Institute Press: All Books, Peterson Institute for International Economics, number 77, October.
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    7. Ruggie, John Gerard, 1982. "International regimes, transactions, and change: embedded liberalism in the postwar economic order," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 36(2), pages 379-415, April.
    8. Nelson, Douglas, 1989. "Domestic Political Preconditions of US Trade Policy: Liberal Structure and Protectionist Dynamics," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(1), pages 83-108, January.
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    13. Moravcsik, Andrew, 1997. "Taking Preferences Seriously: A Liberal Theory of International Politics," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 51(4), pages 513-553, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thao, Chu Minh, 2018. "The Transformation Of Vietnamese Trade Policy," OSF Preprints 7qdnt, Center for Open Science.

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    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations

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