In recent years, the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany have disagreed sharply over the politics and economics of East-West relations. This book examines the political and economic premises behind American and West German approaches toward East-West commerce and analyzes the degree to which views differ. The contributors, a mix of German and American specialists from academia, business, and government, present wide-ranging and conflicting views on issues that are of vital significance for Western security: What is the political and economic utility of East-West trade? Is it possible to elicit concessions from the Soviet Union in response to economic levers? How much technology transfer can and should be regulated? And how can the United States and Germany reconcile their diverging views on East-West commerce?