International trade policy is facing a cross-roads. This is creating uncertainty, impairing world economic growth. Unless a policy of more open markets is pursued, protectionism may well turn into a self-perpetuating and cumulative process. This is why the 1986 Kiel Conference was devoted to Free Trade in the World Economy: Towards an Opening of Markets. We felt that such a conference would help to stimulate policy discussion preceding the Uruguay Round under the auspices of the GATT and the moves within the European Community towards completing a common internal market by 1992.