ASEAN reduces trade barriers between member countries in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN reduces trade barriers between member countries in Southeast Asia.

• A. Europe
• B. Southeast Asia
• C. Africa
• D. North America

Answer: (B)

The main idea is regional economic integration—countries in a shared region work together to lower or remove trade barriers so goods and services move more easily. ASEAN is a group of nations in Southeast Asia, and its goal is to reduce tariffs and other obstacles among its members to boost intra-regional trade. That focus on Southeast Asia makes the correct choice Southeast Asia, since the cooperation described is specific to that geographic region. The other regions listed have their own separate groupings, like Europe or North America, so they don’t match the Southeast Asian context of ASEAN.

The main idea is regional economic integration—countries in a shared region work together to lower or remove trade barriers so goods and services move more easily. ASEAN is a group of nations in Southeast Asia, and its goal is to reduce tariffs and other obstacles among its members to boost intra-regional trade. That focus on Southeast Asia makes the correct choice Southeast Asia, since the cooperation described is specific to that geographic region. The other regions listed have their own separate groupings, like Europe or North America, so they don’t match the Southeast Asian context of ASEAN.