Which of the following is a common reason for a country to join trade blocs or regional agreements?

• A. To deter international cooperation and limit trade.
• B. To gain market access and economies of scale.
• C. To reduce regional integration.
• D. To increase domestic taxation without accountability.

Answer: (B)

Expanding opportunities for trade is what trade blocs are all about. When countries join together, they often remove or reduce barriers like tariffs among members, creating a larger, more integrated market. That bigger market lets businesses sell more across borders and plan production at higher volumes, which lowers average costs and boosts efficiency—these are the gains from economies of scale. In short, the primary motivation is gaining market access and achieving economies of scale, making goods cheaper and more competitive across the bloc.

The other ideas don’t fit the purpose. Detering international cooperation and limiting trade runs against why blocs form in the first place, which is to promote cooperation and open markets. Reducing regional integration is the opposite of what joining a regional agreement seeks. Increasing domestic taxation without accountability isn’t a goal tied to trade blocs and would generally undermine openness and trade.