European Community

European Community (EC) in relation with International Trade

In the context of trade organizations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following definition of European Community (EC): (Previously known as the European Economic Community, or EEC; the term “European Communities” referred to the collectivity of the EEC, the European Coal and Steel Community, and Euratom.) A common market established in 1958 by the Treaty of Rome ( Sec. I) , which linked France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Subsequently the United Kingdom, .Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Portugal became member states, bringing the current membership to 12. Some of the purposes of the EC are the elimination of tariffs and other restrictions on trade between member states; maintenance of a common external tariff toward other countries; free movement of labor and capital among member states; and establishment of a common agricultural policy (Sec. I). In accordance with Article 113 of the~ Treaty of Rome, the EC acts for the member states on matters of trade policy and represents them in GA TT discussions and negotiations.

European Community

Embracing mainstream international law, this section on european community explores the context, history and effect of the area of the law covered here.