Congressional passage of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act in 1962 authorized the White House to conduct mutual tariff negotiations, ultimately leading to the Kennedy Round.
Despite several disagreements over details, the director general announced the round's success on May 15, 1967, and the final agreement was signed on June 30, 1967—the last day permitted under the Trade Expansion Act.
The round was named after U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated six months before the opening negotiations.
Members of the so-called "Bridge Club"—the United States, European Economic Community, Japan, and the UK—led the negotiations and offered linear cuts.
In addition to the linear and nonlinear divides, disputes arose over agricultural policy and tariff disparities.
[10] After a marathon session, negotiators announced a satisfactory agreement at a midnight meeting with the press on May 15, 1967.
[14] Further, the agricultural grains arrangement provided for higher minimum trading prices as well as a food aid program to developing countries.
The round extended the Long Term Cotton Textile Arrangement for another three years and provided frameworks for negotiating steel, aluminum, chemicals, pulp, and paper tariffs.