International Economics 8th Edition by Dennis Appleyard, Alfred Field

Exercise 3

When Portugal and Spain (which import agricultural goods from the United States) entered the EC in 1986, the United States threatened to place heavy duties on imports from the EC of wines, Scotch whisky, and other luxury-type goods unless the Community permitted greater access to other U.S. goods. What could have been the motivation behind the U.S. action, and would you have supported the action?