customs union

American  

noun

1. an association of independent nations or tariff areas created to remove customs barriers between them and to adopt a uniform tariff policy toward nonmember nations.

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customs union British  

noun

1. an association of nations which promotes free trade within the union and establishes common tariffs on trade with nonmember nations

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Example Sentences

A trade deal with the four South American countries that founded the Mercosur customs union is expected to start taking effect in the EU this spring.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

The EU earlier this month signed a free-trade agreement with the four South American countries that founded the Mercosur customs union, and last year it announced a trade and investment deal with Indonesia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

The plan worked better than expected, and what began in 1951 as a six-country European customs union covering coal and steel evolved over decades into the EU.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

However, he added that Turkey, which is in a customs union with the bloc, was "seemingly benefiting and seeing growth in their economy".

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

The economy is tied     closely to that of Switzerland in a customs union, and incomes and living     standards parallel those of the more prosperous Swiss groups.

From The 1992 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency