Until 1962, international trade relations of the United States were regulated by the Trade Agreement Act of 1934, which was always extended or amended according to prevailing international trade policies. In view of the expiration of this act in June 1962, the Kennedy Administration proposed the Trade Expansion Act which, adopted in October 1962, provided for a freer trade policy —a policy that was considered “radical” by a large number of congressmen and other elected officials. The arguments that they advanced were centered around the protection of the domestic producer, the safeguard of employment and domestic wages, and the avoidance of economic crisis due to foreign competition. Further, the whole idea of freer trade was flatly opposed by various businessmen, and particularly by some textile concerns. Thus, the president of a textile association was quoted as follows regarding the possibility of a more liberal trade policy: “If imports keep increasing as they have (7.2% of the U.S. Market in 1960, up 300% from 1958), all United States textiles would be replaced by 1970”.