New Developments in the US-Korea Free Trade -Agreement and Underlying Dynamic Game

    Abstract: The bilateral free trade agreement reached between the United States and  Korea has not developed smoothly. Through two rounds of subsequent negotiations, and after more than four years, on October 12, 2011 and November 22, 2011, America finally achieved ratification by the two Houses of its Congress. This article takes the new agreement between Korea and America signed in February of 2011 as its starting point, and discusses subsequent changes to the Agreement and their implications in order to consider in theory and practice what they imply about the underlying dynamics of American domestic politics. This analysis thoroughly illustrates the process through which the dynamics of American domestic politics impact the content and direction of the trade agreement. The frictions caused by American political institutions offer leverage through which America can force other states to make greater concessions, helping it to achieve maximization of its own interests.