The EEC is now a Customs Union

Abstract

The Customs Union among the member states of the European Economic Community has come into force on July 1, 1968. Its main effect has been the eradication of the ultimate 15 per cent that had remained of the original internal rales of import duty on industrial products between member states and the complete application of the joint tariff of the Community to industrial imports coming from outside the area. Farm produce, which is not subject to import duty but to “Abschöpfungen” (levies) will in future be governed by a unified system of import control. Recently, it has not always been a true community spirit that ruled the fate of the EEC because, in many countries, national selfishness seems to recover ground. This renders more indispensable than ever for the Community a successful completion of the Customs Union, which is thought to be the first big step towards closer political cooperation in Europe.