The origins and limitations of the Atlantic Charter: Britain, the USA, Venezuela, and the development of free trade, 1933–1944. (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seddon, Mark
• Is Part Of: Journal of transatlantic studies. Volume 14:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Anglo-US relations -- Atlantic Charter -- free trade -- oil -- Venezuela; Europe -- Foreign relations -- United States -- Periodicals; United States -- Foreign relations -- Europe -- Periodicals; 327.407
• DOI: 10.1080/14794012.2015.1125160
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-4012

Abstract

Abstract : In response to the Great Depression and the Second World War, the US government worked to propagate free trade throughout the Americas as a means of stimulating domestic economic growth and fostering hemispheric solidary. By 1941, Washington aimed to extend this free trade programme and, therefore, the Anglo-US Atlantic Charter contained a limited commitment to free trade as part of its outline for a new post-war order. However, in 1944, the Venezuelan government demonstrated that it was possible to challenge Anglo-US efforts to apply the Charter to the international oil industry. By analysing the development of the Atlantic Charter's free trade provision, this article develops our understanding of the origins of the international post-war settlement and its contested nature.