ABSTRACT
Global economic integration is a key factor behind the rising significance of international trade. An important share of international trade occurs within economic blocs, especially the European Union and NAFTA, which rely more on land transport modes such as road and rail. The European Union and NAFTA are considered the world’s most integrated trade agreements, with 62.3% and 51.2% of their respective trade concerning member nations. The globalization of production is a driver for the globalization of trade as they are interrelated. The scale, volume, and efficiency of international trade have continued to improve. The container and the associated maritime and inland transport systems have proved to be instrumental to the consecutive waves of globalization and global trade growth since the 1970s. Containerization has been the most dynamic physical component of globalization, far exceeding the growth of the value of exports and the Gross Domestic Product.
