A 'customs union' is a
free trade area with a
common external tariff. The participant countries set up common
external trade policy, but in some cases they use different import
quotas. Common
competition policy is also helpful to avoid
competition deficiency.
Purposes for establishing a customs union normally include increasing
economic efficiency and establishing closer political and cultural ties between the member countries.
It is the third stage of
economic integration.
Customs union is established through
trade pact.
List of Customs Unions
''Every
Common market and
Economic and monetary union has also a 'Customs Union'''
★
Southern African Customs Union
★
East African Community
★
Gulf Cooperation Council
★
MERCOSUR
★
Central American Customs Union
★
EU customs zone
★
EU - Turkey Customs Union (since 1996)
★
EU - Andorra Customs Union
★
EU - San Marino Customs Union
★
Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
★
West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)
★
Andean Community (CAN)
★
Israel -
Palestinian territories (since
1994)
★
Switzerland -
Liechtenstein (since
1924)
Proposed
★ Customs Union of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), due in 2007
★ Customs Union of the
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), due in 2008
★ Customs Union of the
Southern African Development Community (SADC), due in 2010
★ Customs Union of the
Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), due in 2011 ?
★ Customs Union of the
African Economic Community (AEC), due in 2019
★
Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC)
★ Customs Union of the
Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM)
[1]
Defunct
★
Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa (UDEAC) - superseded by
CEMAC
★ Customs Union of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) - proposed successor is
EurAsEC
★
1925 French Customs Union over occupied
Saarland
★ The former
Zollverein
See also
★
List of international trade topics
References
★ Michael T. Florinsky. 1934. The Saar Struggle. New York: The Macmillan Company.