How did the European Economic Community remove trade barriers among its members?

The European Economic Community (EEC) removed trade barriers among its members primarily by establishing a customs union through the Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957.123

To achieve this integration, the EEC implemented the following measures:

• Abolition of Tariffs: The treaty set a strict timetable for the removal of customs duties. The first reduction occurred in 1959, and by July 1968, all internal tariffs on both industrial and agricultural products had been eliminated.134
• Removal of Quotas: Alongside the elimination of tariffs, most quota restrictions on trade between member states were lifted by the middle of 1968.1
• Regulatory Harmonization: Members were required to revise or eliminate national laws that favored domestic industries. The EEC also established common rules to prevent anticompetitive and monopolistic behavior, ensuring a level playing field.4
• Common External Policy: To facilitate internal free trade, the EEC adopted a common external trade policy, gradually aligning tariffs on imports from countries outside the community.134

These efforts were further supported by the Single European Act, which committed members to removing all remaining barriers to a common market by 1992.3