ABSTRACT
In the 1990s, the United States' allocation of funds for foreign affairs suffered a marked reduction to just over one percent of the federal budget, down from its four percent. The United States was also a guiding force in the formation of the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, and multilateral trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. After 9/11, the United States also found helpful, the Security Council's adoption of the US text setting forth measures that member-states must implement in order to prevent the financing of terrorism within its borders. The United States has created more UN organs to deal with the increasing complexities of global challenges. Furthermore, refusal to enter into treaties that are designed to build global security will ultimately work to the detriment of the United States.
