IN THE Trade Agreements Act of 1934 the United States Congress legislated a policy of negotiated tariff reductions. Implicit in this policy, however, was the understanding that tariff concessions should not result in serious injury to domestic industries. This understanding was put into statutory form in the escape clause of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1951. Procedures relating to the administration of the clause were modified somewhat in 1953. The clause was substantively amended in 1955 and again in 1958 to enable domestic producers to obtain protection from imports more easily. This paper attempts to determine whether the 1955 and 1958 amendments to the escape clause have resulted in more restrictive use of the clause. It also comments on implications of the clause for United States trade policy, which will receive particular scrutiny in 1962 when the trade-agreements legislation comes up for renewal. The paper is based primarily upon an examination and analysis of the reports and review reports published by the Tariff Commission in escape-clause investigations. Particular emphasis is given to investigations completed since enactment of the 1955 amendments.