An American View of Economic Relations with the USSR

Abstract

The current rise in US-USSR trade has its ante cedents, which are discussed briefly in the first section of this paper. Attention is then focused on the basic economic reasons which might be adduced for the manifest increased Soviet interest in expanded economic relations with the United States. Special emphasis is given to the Soviet desire to import advanced Western technology. The salient issues in the current discussions of expanded US-USSR economic rela tions are indicated and examined. These issues include: the administration of Soviet trade, problems related to state trading, credits, most favored nation (MFN) status and potential advantages of expanded economic relations. It is concluded that, while the economic advantages for the United States as a nation are debatable, expanded economic relations may increase our political bargaining strength vis-à-vis the Soviets. Also, the commitment to detente should be pre served, as it is in the interest of us all that this be done.