American Trade Restrictions in Light of International Trade Agreements

This research provides an analytical study of the trade restrictions imposed by the United States of America in light of its obligations under international trade agreements, whether multilateral—such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO)—or bilateral and regional agreements like the United States– Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). The study stems from a core question: To what extent do these restrictions align with the fundamental principles of the international trading system, such as free trade, non-discrimination, and reciprocity? The research is structured into sections that address the conceptual framework of trade restrictions, their tools and strategies, and an analysis of their economic, political, and international impacts, with a particular focus on relations with Canada and the European Union. The researcher adopts a comparative analytical and descriptive methodology, relying on legal texts and actual practices. The study concludes that the United States has exploited certain legal exceptions—such as national security and anti-dumping—to justify the imposition of both tariff and non-tariff barriers. However, these policies, especially during the Trump administration, often conflicted with the spirit of international agreements and provoked trade disputes that weakened the multilateral trading system and undermined global confidence in U.S. commitments. The research recommends reinforcing the United States’ compliance with international trade rules, activating dispute settlement mechanisms, and restoring the balance between national sovereignty and international obligations to ensure the sustainability of free trade and fairness in the global trade order