Trade Bloc

Trade Bloc and the GATT Policy Negotiations

In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Trade Bloc: A general term referring to regional arrangements among countries that have established formal mechanisms for cooperation on trade issues. The term does not necessarily imply a protectionist stance with respect to nonmember countries, although it is sometimes used in this way. No widely accepted definition of “trade bloc” exists, but it is commonly understood to include six types of arrangements. In descending order of political-economic integration, these categories are:economic union, common market, customs union, free trade area, preferential arrangement, andregional cooperation organization.