What are the major differences between a free trade area and a customs union?
【正确答案】：Members of a free trade area removes barriers to the flow of goods and services among themselves while each member still adopts its own policy as regards to trade with outsiders. However, a customs union adopts the same trade policy for all the members toward countries outside their organization in addition to abolishing trade barriers among themselves.
【题目解析】：该题目素材选自L3。自由贸易区成员扫除了成员间商品、服务自由流动的障碍，但同其他国家进行贸易活动时，各成员仍采用自己的贸易政策。也就是说，各成员的关税税率或配额限制可能不同。而关税同盟的一体化程度比自由贸易区高。除了消除成员国贸易壁垒之外，所有成员对外实行相同的贸易政策。无论向哪个成员国出口，所有货物都适用统一的关税。
