當今國際貿易體制已在全球化上卻步。對美國而言,國內及國外貿易保護主義的壓力會越來越大。美國貿易代表署與國會之間的互動是美國能否持續其在第二次世界大戰戰後建立的自由貿易體制的關鍵。本論文首先分析1930年至1988年的美國貿易法的演進,藉以說明美國內外政經環境的變化對美國貿易立法的影響。其次,闡述貿易代表署的權責。再次,本文以「1991年爭取延長快速程序授權」以及「1993年簽訂北美自由貿易協定」兩個貿易立法作為案例,描述貿易代表署與國會的互動。貿易代表署與國會間的互動可以顯示美國國內產業所受到的壓力,以及美國貿易政策未來的變化。
Post-WWII international trading system is under tremendous stress. The United States, builder and orchestrator of the system, faces protectionist pressures from abroad and within. Institutionally, the U.S. relies on the office of Trade Representative and Congress to strike a political balance between protectionism and free trade. This thesis first examines the evolution of the U.S. trade laws from 1930 to 1988 to show the political balance in trade policy. It then analyses the mandate and responsibilities of the Trade Representative Office. The thesis next uses two legislative cases, “1991 For the Extension of the Expedited Procedure Authorization” and the “North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993,” to illustrate the interactions between the USTR and Congress. The thesis concludes that the USTR-Congress interaction is of crucial importance in shaping the U.S. foreign trade policy, hence having a strong bearing on the survival of global trading system.