Bloc

1. International relations.

A group of countries with common interests that form an alliance for trade, security or other purposes.

Blocs may be formalised in treaties and permanent institutions, or can be relatively informal and more fluid.

2. Other contexts.

Political parties and individual politicians may also form blocs to cooperate on particular issues of common interest, or more generally.

See also

• Free trade
• Globalisation
• Harmonisation
• International trade
• NATO
• Protectionism
• Quota
• Tariff
• Trade war
• Treaty
• Trumponomics