World Trade: Toward the Kennedy Round

In Geneva's Palais des Nations, the site of many grand scenes and grander disappointments, the U.S., Britain and the Common Market Six have been bickering for nine months over an ambitious plan to lower world tariffs. Bogged down in technicalities, fragmented by chauvinism, they have made little progress. Last week the U.S. took a long step toward resolving the debate, hoping thereby to clear the way at last for the "Kennedy Round" of tariff talks that is scheduled to begin in May.

Compromise. The debate stems from the U.S. Trade Expansion Act, passed...