Reciprocity and Retaliation in U.S. Trade Policy

Should the United States use retaliatory threats to open foreign markets or deter unfair trading practices? This study reexamines the arguments for and against reciprocity and retaliatory threats in light of actual experience since early 1975, especially the United States’ aggressive use of the section 301, special 301, and super 301 provisions of US trade law, which gives the president broad authority to retaliate against unjustifiable, unreasonable, or discriminatory foreign trade practices. It analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of these policies and the circumstances under which they are likely to succeed or fail.