... trade agreements have to be common. * Bargaining power: The EU can use its size and importance in world trade to pursue its interests in trade negotiations. Forces shaping trade policy * Member States particular interests: countries, regions or products that are especially important. * History of the Member States: in particular their colonial inheritance, these two factors have led to a host of preferential trade arrangements. * GATT/WTO: rules and negotiations. * Changing conventional wisdom of trade and development policy The Common Commercial Policy The EU's trading policy towards the rest of the world is called the Common Commercial Policy and is established under Articles 100-116 of the Treaty of Rome (Title IX Articles 131-134 of the Consolidated Treaty). "By establishing a customs union between themselves Member States aim to contribute, in the common interest, to the harmonious development of world trade, the progressive abolition of restrictions on international trade and the lowering of customs barriers" (Article ...

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