2 - ‘An Arrow in the Western World’s Quiver’

Summary

Despite the universal pretensions of GATT, the Cold War repositioned it geopolitically as a forum and instrument of the western alliance. The narrative follows the accession process of communist countries (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, and the People s Republic of China) as well as strategic allies (West Germany and Japan). Debates about admitting new contracting parties focus on GATT members that were part of the western bloc as well as ideological rivals – Czechoslovakia and the United States. The consequences of closer association or ongoing disassociation for Cold War objectives affected who was let into, allowed to associate with, or shut out of GATT. The admission of communist countries was also important to counter accusations that GATT s membership was restrictive, a claim that aggravated its institutional insecurity. Unlike many writings that have characterized GATT as apolitical, this chapter shows how the eastwest geopolitical fault line politicized and instrumentalized GATT and liberal trade.