Explores the politics of free trade policies in the United States.

Until the New Deal, most groups seeking protection from imports were successful in obtaining relief from Congress. In general the cost of paying the tariffs for consumers was less than the cost of mounting collective action to stop the tariffs. In 1934, with the passage of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, all of this changed. The six decades that followed have produced a remarkable liberalization of trade policy in the United States. This occurred despite the fact that domestic politics, according to some of the best developed theories, should have prevented this liberalization. Michael Gilligan argues that liberalization has succeeded because it has been reciprocal with liberalization in other countries. Our trade barriers have been reduced as an explicit quid pro quo for reduction of trade barriers in other countries. Reciprocity, Gilligan argues, gives exporters the incentive to support free trade policies because it gives them a clear gain from free trade and thus enables the exporters to overcome collective action problems. The lobbying by exporters, balancing the interests of groups seeking protection, changes the preferences of political leaders in favor of more liberalization. Gilligan tests his theory in a detailed exploration of the history of American trade policy and in a quantitative analysis showing increases in the demand for liberalization as the result of reciprocity in trade legislation from 1890 to the present. This book should appeal to political scientists, economists, and those who want to understand the political underpinnings of American trade policy. Michael J. Gilligan is Assistant Professor of Politics, New York University.

Explores the politics of free trade policies in the United States.

The liberalization of transatlantic trade relations since the Great Depression is one of the key developments in the global political economy of the last hundred years. This period has seen the negotiated reduction of both tariffs and nontariff barriers among developed countries, which allowed for the rapid expansion of trade flows, a driving force of economic globalization. In Protection for Exporters, Andreas Dür provides a novel explanation for this phenomenon that stresses the role of societal interests in shaping trade politics. He argues that exporters lobby more in reaction to losses of foreign market access than in pursuit of opportunities, thus providing a rationale for periods of acceleration and slowdown in the pace of liberalization. Dür also presents hypotheses about the form in which protection for exporters is provided (preferential or nonpreferential) and the balance of concessions that is exchanged in trade negotiations. Protection for Exporters includes case studies of major developments in international trade relations, such as the passage of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in the 1930s, the creation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in the 1940s, the Kennedy Round in the 1960s, the debate over Fortress Europe in the 1980s, and U.S.-European competition over access to emerging markets in the early 2000s. Dür's rigorous argument and systematic empirical analyses not only explain transatlantic trade relations but also allow for a better understanding of the dynamics of international economic relations.

This publication provides insights on how trade can be leveraged for greater economic empowerment of women in the Pacific. It includes an analysis of how gender mainstreaming in Aid for Trade interventions could catalyze greater donor support to help the region benefit from truly inclusive trade-driven growth. In the Pacific, the labor force participation gap between men and women has narrowed, but women there are still less likely to be in work than men. Women are also more likely to be working in low-paid, low-skilled jobs, or informal, vulnerable employment. To tap into the full potential of the female labor force and entrepreneurial potential, much more needs to be done.

Empowering the Caribbean Islands: The Role of Imports for Social Impact is a comprehensive guide to understanding the potential of import and export trade in the Caribbean region. Written by Jermaine Eric Whiteside, a recent graduate of Walden University with a Master of Science in Information Management Systems and executive education from Duke Fuqua School of Business, Harvard School of Law, Columbia Graduate School of Business, and MIT Executive Education. This book delves into how imports can improve Caribbean communities, particularly in food security, education, housing, public safety, renewable energy, and technology innovation. The author provides a detailed analysis of the potential role of imports in promoting digital inclusion and access to government services, as well as the benefits of digital inclusion and technology for developing small businesses in the Caribbean Islands. Whiteside also explores the importance of collaboration between public, private, and faith-based organizations to achieve sustainable economic growth and social impact. He highlights the importance of Jamaica, with its large trade port in Kingston and one of the largest faith-based institutions in the Caribbean, as a potential leader in importing and exporting goods to empower the public. Empowering the Caribbean Islands is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the potential of trade in the Caribbean region and the role of imports in promoting social impact. With its focus on integrating public, private, and faith-based organizations for importing and exporting goods to empower the public, the book is a valuable resource for policymakers, business leaders, and development professionals.

This publication provides insights to decision makers on women's participation in trade and the challenges they face. It outlines where the barriers are, provides data from importers and exports in 20 developing countries, shares models of good public and private sector initiatives, and provides recommendations for policymakers to engage women entrepreneurs more fully in the global economy. The report also provides an overview of initiatives undertaken by trade and investment support institutions, governments and multinationals that aim at facilitating the integration of women-owned businesses in international markets and international value chains. It reveals that multiple actors are taking action in favour of women-owned enterprises' integration in global markets. Some actors rather try to address underlying gender biases while other actors focus on addressing road blocks to integration. The report also highlights that different tools are being used to intervene. This publication will be of interest to policymakers, public and private sector actors, researchers and all stakeholders interested in women's economic empowerment.