The Impact of the U.S. Trade Policy on International Trade Law
Emily Kim — University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92083, United States
Aiden Kim — Seoul Academy Upper Division, 422 Yeoksam-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06200, Republic of Korea
Abstract
A growing global crisis are tariff rates and the appellate body of the international trading system. As President Trump entered his second -term, the United States is experiencing the sudden changes in the trading system, initiated by its policies. Internat ional trade law follows the foundational principles of the World Trade Organization, but there happens to be a retaliation against the organization, creating a fragmentation in the system. Not only are tariffs weakening the trading system, but the undermin ing of the dispute settlement further damages international trade relations. The growing concern is the lack of presence in the appellate body which is leading to unresolved and neglected disputes. Without the appellate body, the trading system is completely broken, causing states to divert from the original international trade law.
Keywords
Keywords: World Trade Organization (WTO); General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT); Tariffs; Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU); Appellate Body
Introduction
Trade policy is both a domestic political instrument and a component of the international legal order. Understanding recent U.S. approaches requires connecting administrative measures to treaty obligations and dispute settlement practice.
Conclusion
The article concludes that predictable alignment between domestic measures and international commitments supports credibility and reduces retaliation risk. Further research may track evolving dispute outcomes and comparative responses among major economies.
How to Cite
Kim, Emily; Kim, Aiden. The Impact of the U.S. Trade Policy on International Trade Law. Journal of Youth Impact. April 2026; 1(Issue 2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.66245/jyi.v1.i2.004