The article talks about countries joining together in economic integration, which means they treat each other's imports differently from those of other countries. It's like a bunch of countries becoming one big team in trade. This helps them trade more freely with each other. Different groups, like ASEAN and the EU, have formed these trade teams over the years. The goal is to show how these partnerships affect trade and the well-being of the countries involved. It's like different countries joining forces to make their economies work better together.