Hull And The Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act "(1933-1935)

Cordell Hull was one of the most important statesmen in the history of American foreign policy. Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, which was enacted in 1934, was recognized as the tuning point of American Tariff history. Scholars considered Cordell Hull was the person who did much to bring about and implement the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. The thesis reviews how Hull's idea on traffic developed and the process of Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act's making and implementing and then analyzes the relationship between Cordeil Hull and Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act.Cordeil Hull was one of the most important statesmen in the history if American foreign policy. He was famous as "Internationalist". Through reviewing the formative process of Hull's idea on trade and traffic, the author discusses the relationship between the process and the changes in American society and argues that Hull's idea resulted from radical changes of American international economic status.During Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, Hull was appointed to be secretary of state. Hull pushed his tariff revision program with zeal. But, at the inception of the New Deal, the Administration showed itself divided differences on the subject of tariff policy. Facing the depression, Roosevelt finally chose the economic nationalism policy to protect the interests of United States. That led to the failure of the London Economic Conference.After London Economic Conference, domestic economic situation broke the former balance of power. Economic nationalist policy had less effect on government gradually and then different factions which hold their own positions allied to pass the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. Hull wanted to lower the import tariffs so he is the one of important factors that pass the act, but not the only one even not the decisive factor. Actually, Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act was a result of many factors interacting.After having the power to implement the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, Hull pushed his trade program energetically. It was the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Program. The Program restored the American foreign trade, and the import and export increased evidently. But in the negotiations between nations, there were some issues made it difficult to achieve the goal that Hull always proclaimed. In the conflict of the American interests and the principles he insisted, Hull abandoned his principles to defend the American interest.