On The MFN Treatment Of Romania By The U.S.(1969-1975)

In 1958,the Eisenhower administration established the "evolution" policy towards the Eastern European countries,which was the basis for the development of the Eastern European policies of successive American administrations during the Cold War.The Kennedy administration basically continued the previous administration’s policy on Eastern Europe and proposed to develop limited relations with the Eastern European countries.After Johnson became president,he took peaceful "evolution" as the key tone and put forward the policy of "bridging" as the way to influence the Eastern European countries.During the administration of President Nixon,the Cold War detente strategy was implemented.In Eastern Europe,on the one hand,it eased relations with the Soviet Union,on the other hand,it implemented the policy of different treatment to other socialist countries.President Ford took office and continued the foreign policy line of the previous administration.After the establishment of the "evolution" policy in Eastern Europe,the United States changed the economic and political blockade against the Soviet Union and its satellite states.In terms of economy,culture and other aspects,it gradually expanded its relations with friendly countries in the West,so that it could gain real independence from the Soviet Union and finally win the victory of the Cold War against the Soviet Union in a peaceful way in Eastern Europe.Before 1969,the United States took Yugoslavia,Poland and Hungary as the main countries to develop relations.During the Nixon-Ford,Romania received more attention in U.S.Eastern European policy.In the atmosphere of friendly diplomatic relations,the two countries have continuously strengthened trade exchanges.Romania wants most-favored-nation status,which would allow it to export more goods to the United States and enjoy preferential tariffs;The United States gave Romania MFN status as a political bargaining chip to achieve more interests.The two countries seem to agree on the MFN treatment,but the actual process of consultation is fraught with difficulties.Although the most-favorednation treatment can achieve bilateral reciprocity,the United States dominated the global economy during the Cold War and played a decisive role in the negotiations between the two countries.While Romania has been actively negotiating for MFN status,the United States has traded with Romania for more political reasons,seeing it as part of its policy toward Eastern Europe.Therefore,the consultation and practice between the two countries were hindered by the US-Soviet relationship and the legislation of the Congress.Romania was finally granted MFN status in 1975.This was the result of a compromise between the president and Congress,and between the United States and Romania on the issue of free immigration,which foreshadowed the breakdown of relations between the United States and Romania over human rights during the Carter era.Throughout the negotiation process of MFN treatment between the two countries from 1969 to 1975,the relations between the United States and the Soviet Union and the Congress were the main influencing factors.This can be a glimpse of the influence of the US-Soviet relationship and the congressional legislation on the US policy in Eastern Europe.