The U.S. Foreign Trade Policy (1816-1861) From The Evolution Of The Tariff Act

As an important part of national economic policy,foreign trade policy plays an important role in economic activities through tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.Under the terms of the 1787 Constitution,the U.S.Congress governs foreign trade as the principal agency for trade policy.It was not until 1934 that the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act changed the decision-making power of US trade policy--the Congress authorized the president to make trade policy and transferred the trade jurisdiction to the president.From the founding of the United States to the Civil War,the theme of the United States foreign trade policy is basically around the "tariff".Examine the trajectory of prewar tariff policy between 1816 and 1861 to examine important shifts in American trade policy.The trade policy of the early United States is basically embodied in every tariff legislation of the United States.It can be said that the trade policy of the early United States is the tariff policy of the early United States.This paper is divided into three parts: The first part discusses the "1789 customs law" and the emergence of American early free trade thought;The second part discusses the four periods of American trade policy from 1816 to 1861:The customs duties from 1816 to1832 were characterized by strengthened protection,and trade protectionism had its bud and brief development;The period from 1833 to 1842 was still a period of tariff protection in general.It was also a period of fierce struggle between pro-trade protectors and pro-free traders.Under the situation of tension and political instability,both sides made partial compromise;1846-1857,the period of free trade,but political tension and economic crisis appeared at the same time,this period existed relatively short;The Morrill Tariff Act of 1861 marked the establishment of high tariff protectionism in the United States.