Clashing Over Commerce: A History of US Trade Policy (Markets and Governments in Economic History)

by Douglas A. Irwin

In terms of economic geography, the production of goods that can be traded across countries—the cultivation of agricultural crops, the extraction of mineral resources, and production of manufactured goods—tend to be located in certain parts of the country, where they can remain for decades, if not centuries. The composition of trade—the types of goods exported and imported—also tends to be stable over time. This means that the nation’s farmers, miners, and manufacturers have long-standing but conflicting interests over trade: some export to foreign markets and want relatively open trade, while others face foreign competition and want protective tariffs to keep imports out of the domestic market. Thus, different regions of the country, with their different producer interests, tend to have fairly stable preferences for certain trade policies. Because members of Congress usually reflect the interests of their constituents, Congressional voting patterns also show continuity over time.