U.S. trade agreements and national security
Description
The United States has long employed economic policies to promote its influence and presence abroad. In this sentiment, trade is a key strategy for economic power abroad and to manage potentially important relationships on a bilateral or regional basis. Which countries hold agreements with the United States does not align with top economic performing nations. This group of countries suggests that the United States positions its trade policy around factors other than economic performance. This thesis concerns itself with the use of U.S. Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT) in respect to major national security concerns abroad. My research uses regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between the allocation of U.S. troops and military aid abroad with the status of U.S. trade agreements bilaterally. This research suggests that the United States has used trade as an economic tool to promote its national security interests, prior to the 21st century. With changes in U.S. foreign policy in the 21st century and shifting sentiments around free trade, dependence on trade as a tool of U.S. strategy weakened.