U.S. Trade Policy and the Case for Open Markets

This paper analyzes the current state of U.S. trade policy following President Trump's withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in January 2017. It traces the historical evolution of international trade frameworks from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) through the World Trade Organization (WTO) and examines the implications of the TPP's abandonment for American economic competitiveness. The paper evaluates the benefits and drawbacks of free trade agreements, considers the Trump Administration's renegotiation of NAFTA, and recommends policy approaches that balance trade openness with domestic economic interests. Key focus areas include tariff reduction, intellectual property protections, labor and environmental standards, and strategies for containing China's influence in East Asian trade.