Tag Archives: Common Market

European Common Market and The Free Trade Area

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Author- United States Department of State press statement on the European Common Market and the Free Trade Area, January 15,1957, the US government writes back offering support for these negotiations because it unifies different countries and improves their economy.

Context-Belgium, France, the German Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands are all joining together to establish a European market where there are no barriers during trade. This is in order to keep peace between these six countries. It will help each of these six countries prosper and raise their economies. Tariffs would be put on all foreign goods being export to those not in the market.

Language- The document was designed for those who are educated and it is directed towards the people. It is also spoken in a way that is understandable as well as informative. It was showed to the U.S to gain their approval. It was a convincing document that showed all the pros of this arrangement.

Audience- The document informs the people about the situation, the audience who is reading this would most likely be those who are educated and interested in the economy as well as politics

Intent- the intent of this press statement is to get the people aware of how this could help their economy and help build their economy back up after the war. The author was trying to bring the people and the countries together.

Message- It was to convince the people that this change would be beneficial to all involved. They have gained the U.S approval and are able to form a market representing all of the six countries. This treaty helps prevent the spread of communism.

On the European Common Market and the Free Trade Area

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3 Observations

1) Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and West Germany are the six nations which were negotiating to establish a common market with no internal trade barriers and a common external tariff. The United Kingdom was interested in joining the elimination of trade barriers with these six founding members but having its own external tariff. Other Western European nations showed interest similar to the UK.

2) The United States’ policies were: to support moves to further political and economic strength and cohesion in Western Europe, and devotion to progress toward freer nondiscriminatory multilateral trade and convertibility of currencies. Simply put, the US supported the formation of this common market because it would benefit both the US and the world economy.

3) The United States was particularly interested in arrangements that related to agriculture, had a bearing on the liberalization of import controls affecting dollar goods, and measures both public and private which bear on international trade. Again, the US supports this common market because it would benefit the US especially in its agricultural exports to Europe.

2 Questions

1) As it stood, this cooperation represented progress in the world economy. Later on, when this was incorporated into the Treaty for the UN, they treaty mentioned a common defense policy which might lead to a common defense. Does this sound like the type of alliance which could lead to another World War? If not, then why is this different from alliances earlier in the century?

2) What was happening at the time with diplomacy in Eastern Europe? And how did they perceive this agreement?

1 Interesting Observation

1) Although nothing about communism or the Cold War was mentioned, it was highly probable that the US supported this partly because it helped the six member states resist the influence of communism. The US would do anything at the time to undermine efforts of communist expansion.