미국 통상정책에 있어서의 USTR의 역할: 내부적 정책조정자에서 국제무대의 무역전사로

Abstract

This paper examines the position of the United States Trade Representative in the American policymaking process. Born in 1963 by the strong demand of Congress, the USTR， then called the Special Trade Representative, was originally meant to be the executive broker" between the executive and the legislative branches, between domestic interests and foreign govermments， and among the related government agencies. The main function of the USTR is twofold: to coordinate the trade policymaking and implementation process and to represent the US in the international trade negotiations. recent changes in the international economic environment and in the American trade policy regime have led to the shift of the focus of the USTRs main function: from a domestic policy coordinator to a brave trade warrior. This change is especially manifested by the increased authority of the USTR over the section 301 procedures, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. It was a result of the Congress' effort to regain its control over the Executive in foreign trade matters. Having to serve two masters, i.e. the President and the Congress, the USTR must find a way to balance the Executive imperative of free trade on one hand and the Congressional demand for protectionism on the other hand. And that means the USTR will keep pressing other countries for reciprocal fair trade, which aims at free trade through protectionist measures. It is expected that the USTR will have to keep fighting in the international trade frontiers for more and more open, liberalized foreign markets so that American companies can play freely abroad.