School of Public Policy 628 - International Trade Policy

This course focuses on how globalization, economic theory and domestic politics shape US public policy on international trade and the impact this has on American businesses, consumers and workers, as well as US international relations. It guides students through the disastrous tariffs of the Great Depression; the post-World War II economic institutions designed to avoid future economic meltdowns and conflicts; post-war US economic dominance followed by global competition and globalization; the anti-trade backlash and populism that followed; the rise of China; and the trade wars that have marked the past several US Administrations. The course poses the question: How can complex economic issues be addressed in the face of politically motivated economic distortion?