Defining Unreasonableness in International Trade: Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974

Abstract

As the United States trade deficit hits record levels' and international trade issues gain new political prominence, 2 the executive and legislative branches have renewed their long-running battle for control over United States trade policy.'Currently at the center of that battle is a struggle for control of section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974," which gives the President discretionary authority to impose retaliatory measures against any foreign 1.At the end of 1985, the United States became a net debtor for the first time since before World War 1. 3 Int'l Trade Rep. (BNA) 872 (July 2, 1986).The United States trade deficit reached an annual rate of $168 billion in the first six months of 1986, compared with $148.5 billion in 1985.