This articles shows how theories of international relations are unsatisfactory for explaining the failure of the myriad attempts to establish a transatlantic free trade area throughout history. The mere removal of tariffs should logically have occurred a long time ago. Perhaps it would have been better to study the weight of protectionist lobbies on both sides of the Atlantic to explain these multiple failures. Taking into account this factor would certainly better assess the likelihood of success of the current revival than current explanations that seem unsatisfactory. Organization: Institut d'études européennes, Université libre de Bruxelles