according to its preamble, its purpose was the “substantial reduction of tariffs and other trade barriers and the elimination of preferences, on a reciprocal and mutually advantageous basis.” the main focus of the talks was more tariff reductions, around 5,000 in total. to an extent, this view was shared in europe, but the process of european unification created its own stresses under which the kennedy round at times became a secondary focus for the eec.