Trade Expansion Act

Passed in 1962, and heavily promoted by the young president, JFK, this act enabled tariff cuts of up to 50% for Common Market (also known as European Union) countries. This was started by massive western European economic recovery due to the Marshall Plan. The main opposition to this act, which bolstered trans-Atlantic ties, was by Charles De Gaulle, Prime minister of France. De Gaulle feared the growing international power of the U.S., and felt threatened by the strong ties between America and Britain.