The Politics of International Economic Relations, 5th Edition

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International Trade and Domestic Politics

 

Trade policy is the stuff of domestic politics. Tariffs, quotas, and nontariff barriers are familiar issues for a broad range of economic groups, from farmers to manufacturers to labor unions to retailers. Because trade policy often determines prosperity or adversity for these groups, it is also the subject of frequent and often highly charged domestic political conflict.

In the United States, the Constitution accentuates the political conflict over trade policy by giving Congress the power to levy tariffs and regulate foreign commerce while at the same time giving the president authority in foreign policy. Conflict within Congress and between Congress and the executive branch is a central characteristic ...