WORLD TRADE LIBERALISATION SINCE THE XIXTH CENTURY UP TO DATE

The present paper aims to disseminate how liberalisation processes were conducted

around the globe and especially in Europe since the XIXth century up to date. The research

objective is to review the liberalisation of trade dynamics and create an image of the

architecture of the most important trading blocs. Analysis will be conducted considering the

three major regional blocs: Europe, North America and East Asia. The main findings will

show that, despite the few mutations that occurred in international trade as a result of the

emergence of developing nations as major trade partners, the European Union and the

United States remain the economic and trade hegemons.