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 customs union would eliminate tariffs or taxes on some or all goods between the UK and the EU, reducing bureaucracy.

From BBC

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

"We are better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment," Sir Keir said.

From BBC

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

Asked whether he wanted to the UK to have a customs union with the EU, he said: "That's not currently our policy, that's not currently where we are."

From BBC