Aggressive Unilateralism
America's 301 Trade Policy and the World Trading System

US trade policy has moved in recent years toward aggressive unilateralism. This volume provides an analysis of this development, explains the legislative history of the policy as expressed in Section 301 of the Trade Act and the more recent Super 301, and explores the underlying political forces.

United States' trade policy has moved in recent years toward aggressive unilateralism. This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of this dramatic development. The authors, leading scholars of international economics, GATT law and political science, explain the legislative history of the policy as expressed in section 301 of the Trade Act and the more recent Super 301, and explore the political forces driving their adoption. The 301 policy contrasts with America's simultaneous support of multilateral talks at the Uruguay Round intended to reconstitute and revitalize the GATT. Professor Bhagwati and his co-authors present the full economic and legal issues raised by the policy and its implications for not just the Uruguay Round but for the whole concept of a multilateral world trading system.

Introduction: Aggressive unilateralism - an overview. Part 1 The history of 301 and current US policy
the heart of the 1988 Trade Act
US policy on 301 and Super 301. Part 2 Evaluations of 301 - legal, political and economic: thinking about the new Section 301 - beyond good and evil
the political economy of US trade policy - a study of the Super 301 Provision
strategic bargaining and Section 301. Part 3 Trading partners' reaction to 301: Super 301 and Japan
Super 301 and the world trading system - a Korean view
the point of view of an emerging trading nation - Brazil
a European view of the 1988 US Trade Act and Section 301.