Both common and unique patterns were intricately interwoven in German-American relations during the postwar era. Unique historical points of departure and configurations of interests created the defining features of the relationship between the United States and West Germany. Bilateral relations were, however, also part of a more comprehensive network of relations that was determined, on the one hand, by the transatlantic security alliance and, on the other, by the progressive integration of Western Europe.

West European integration became particularly significant for foreign trade policy: German- American foreign trade relations have fallen under the Common Foreign Trade Policy of the European Community (EC) since the 1970s.

Foreign trade policy relations between Europe and the United States as well as between Germany and the United States underwent significant changes between the 1950s and the 1970s. Contributing factors included the leveling of differences in economic power between the United States and Western Europe, and an increasing level of global economic integration, in particular between the western industrial nations. The crises in the world economy of the 1970s increased mutual dependency and the need for cooperation, but also heightened the problems associated with cooperation under the conditions of “complex interdependency.”