Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2013

 

The Kennedy Administration's Policy of Export Controls on the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

(Abstract)

 

Liu Zikui

 

Once Kennedy took office, he was faced with a new situation at home and abroad. He had initially intended to loosen export controls on the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe; but although this was beneficial for the US both in terms of boosting the economy and easing the Cold War situation, export controls had become integrated with the US Cold War strategy and mentality in the critical years of the Cold War, and was seen as an effective weapon. At the same time, due to the disagreements within the US government and internal contradictions in the Kennedy administration's guidelines for reform of export controls, the original intention of loosening export controls was not achieved; on the contrary, the policy became more stringent.