The Research On The Trade Policies In The U.S. After World War Ⅱ

American's foreign trade plays important role in both its economy and theworld economy development. As for the trade policies after world war two, freetrade under protection is the main trend. But after the end of the cold war,America takes the name of fair trade to actualize unilateralism, which ischaracterized by trade retaliation, brings complicated effect to the worldmultilateral trade system. So, it is very important to research American tradepolicies. After mercantilism comes into being, the controversy between free tradeand protectionism always companies with the development of international tradetheory. Although both two sides agrees that foreign economy is quite importantfor a country, but they are in controversy on the political suggestions to eachgovernment. In 16th century, mercantilism was the foundation of foreign trade. In 1776,Adam Smith first raised the point of absolute advantages, and advocated freetrade polices. In 1817, David Ricardo's comparative advantages theory enrichedthe free trade theory. In 1827, protectionism came into being, and emphasized onthe protection for the infantile industry. In the early 20th century, Heckscher &Ohiln uses the disparity of resources gift between two countries to explain theforeign trade. Later, new mercantilism of Keynesianism advocated using themeasures of mercantilism. Free trade theory became the mainstream after worldwar two. Since 1970s, new protectionism became main policy in America. From the process of development of foreign trade, we could easily draw outthat the controversy existed between free trade and protectionism continually.But, absolute free trade and absolute protectionism only has in the economytheory, the practical trade policies are the combination of the two theories. 44After World War two, American trade policy changed from protectionism tofree trade, then return to protectionism. After the war, basing on the great economical scale and the request ofadjusting economical structure, America engaged in promoting free trade and theGATT. From middle of 70' s, American economy gradually declined, soAmerican trade policies turned to the protectionism. In the Act of TradeRevelation in 1974, there were some new concepts such as fair and hurt, unfair.After that, American trade policies had three characteristics, which were microunilateralism, management trade and congressism. By these measures, Americacompelled other countries opening their market, especially opening their servicemarket, primary products market, and the high technologic products markets.After 90's, unilateralism became the main way of Clinton' government. In thenew century, Bush government more emphasized the unilateralism, which hadbecome the eudemon of fair trade. American trade policies are impacted by the political and economic goalimpact, and by many kinds of interest groups. That is the main reason thatAmerican trade polices alternated between free trade and protectionism. The first,the competition strategies and economical situation determined American tradepolicies. The second, the request of world economy and domestic economymotivated America to change its trade policies. The third, the interest groupsinfluenced the trade polices to some extent. So, American trade policies show itsflexible, multiple, demonstratives, imperative, and so on. There are many enlightenment of American trade polices for china: First, China should make great effect to develop economy and create a goodfoundation for Chinese trade policy. American powerful unilateralism tradepolicies bases on its large market and industries advantage. We should establishthe whole domestic market and develop economy, so as to increase the chips in 45international trade negotiation, and further raise our negotiation status. Second, China should pay much attention to internati...