TRADE BLOCS

A trade bloc is a type of intergovernmental agreement, often part of a regional intergovernmental organization, where regional barriers to trade (tariffs and non-tariff barriers) are reduced or eliminated among the participating states. One of the first economic blocs was the German Customs Union (Zollverein) initiated in 1834, formed on the basis of the German Confederation and subsequently German Empire from 1871. Surges of trade bloc formation were seen in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as in the 1990s after the collapse of Communism. By 1997, more than 50% of all world commerce was conducted under the auspices of regional trade blocs. Economist Jeffrey J. Scott of the Peterson Institute for International Economics notes that members of successful trade blocs usually share four common traits: similar levels of per capita GNP, geographic proximity, similar or compatible trading regimes, and political commitment to regional organization.

Advocates of worldwide free trade are generally opposed to trading blocs, which, they argue, encourage regional as opposed to global free trade. Scholars and economists continue to debate whether regional trade blocs are leading to a more fragmented world economy or encouraging the extension of the existing global multilateral trading system. Trade blocs can be stand-alone agreements between several states (such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or part of a regional organization (such as the European Union). Depending on the level of economic integration, trade blocs can fall into different categories, such as: preferential trading areas, free trade areas, customs unions, common markets and economic and monetary unions.

Stages of economic integration around the World:
(each country colored according to the most advanced agreement that it participates into.)

  Economic and Monetary Union (CSME/EC$, EU/€)

  Economic union (CSME, EU)

  Customs and monetary union (CEMAC/franc, UEMOA/franc)

  Common market (EEA, EFTA)

  Customs union (CAN, CUBKR, EAC, EUCU, MERCOSUR, SACU)

  Multilateral Free Trade Area (AFTA, CEFTA, COMESA, GAFTA, GCC, NAFTA, SAFTA, SICA, TPP)








































BY: JORGE R. DIEGO H. AND WILLIAM S.