The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the existence of historical evidence that allows us to establish relationships between the concepts of free trade and protectionism, which are both used in US foreign trade policy, At the same, it seeks to demonstrate the importance of legislation and of the principles formulated in that country, as well as their role in explaining the motivation behind the structure of international trade after 1945. This explanatory role contributes decisively toward our understanding of the successive rounds of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) negotiations until the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995. Furthermore, it shows why US foreign trade is, beyond a matter of the State, a matter of society.
United States; foreign trade policy; free trade; protectionism; US Congress
