Making Trade Policy In The European Community (trade Policy Research Centre)

'Commentators often see wide differences between policy as they consider how it should be conducted and how it actually emerges. Those who are involved in making trade policy, for their part, commonly accuse commentators of 'not living in the real world'. There is often a dialogue of the deaf. Part of Mr. Hayes' object has been to try to build bridges between practitioners and commentators, with suggestions for ways of improving the policy-making process in the future.'Hugh Corbet, Consultant, Trade Policy Research Centre, London. The external trade policies of the European Community are of great importance, both for its own people and for trading partners in the remainder of the world. Yet the processes by which the European Community of twelve countries attempts to reach agreement have remained somewhat mysterious. What has been the relative influence of principles of policy and of various political, bureaucratic and private interests, at both the Community and the national levels? This volume is based on a number of case-studies, and also contains chapters on the formation of attitudes to trade policy in three of the largest countries of the Community, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The external trade policies of the European Community are of great importance, both for its own people and for trading partners in the rest of the world. The Community is a major trading bloc; together with the United States, it plays a central part in shaping the rules governing international trade - for example in the difficult Uruguay Round of negotiations. There have been fears among trading partners that the completion of the Community's internal liberalisation of movements of goods, services and persons could lead to significant pressures to increase protection against imports from the outside world. Yet the processes by which the Community of twelve countries attempts to arrive at common positions on questions of trade policy have remained somewhat mysterious and there have been various conflicting attempts at explanation. There have been differing views on the relative influence of principles of policy and of various political, bureaucratic and private interests, at both Community and national levels. This volume concentrates largely on policies affecting imports into the European Community of manufactured goods - policies including the negotiation of export restraint and orderly marketing agreements and the imposition of anti-dumping duties. The book is based on a number of case studies and also contains chapters on the formation of attitudes to trade policy in three of the largest countries of the Community, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Importance and Complexity....Pages 1-10 Principal Characteristics of Community Trade Policy....Pages 11-32 Institutional Framework of the European Community....Pages 33-41 Explanations of the Process of Decision-Making....Pages 42-50 Economic Background to Community Trade Policy....Pages 51-72 Making Trade Policy in Germany1....Pages 73-86 Making Trade Policy in France....Pages 87-104 Making Trade Policy in the United Kingdom....Pages 105-121 How Decisions Are Made....Pages 122-133 Interests and Pressures on Policy-Makers....Pages 134-145 The Influence of Ideas on Trade Policy in the Community....Pages 146-160 Summary and Conclusions....Pages 161-173 Back Matter....Pages 174-204 1. Importance And Complexity -- 2. Principal Characteristics Of Community Trade Policy -- 3. Institutional Framework Of The European Community -- 4. Explanations Of The Process Of Decision-making -- 5. Economic Background To Community Trade Policy -- 6. Making Trade Policy In Germany -- 7. Making Trade Policy In France -- 8. Making Trade Policy In The United Kingdom -- 9. How Decisions Are Made -- 10. Interests And Pressures On Policy-makers -- 11. The Influence Of Ideas On Trade Policy In The Community -- 12. Summary And Conclusions -- Appendix: Explanations Of Patterns Of Protection: Statistical Tests. J.p. Hayes. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 192-196) And Index.