<P> Historically, many governments followed a policy of protection of trade . International free trade became visible in 1860 with the Anglo - French commercial treaty, and the trend gained further momentum during the period after World War II . According to The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition: </P> <P> "After World War II, strong sentiment developed throughout the world against protection and high tariffs and in favor of freer trade . The results were new organizations and agreements on international trade such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1948), the Benelux Economic Union (1948), the European Economic Community (Common Market, 1957), the European Free Trade Association (1959), Mercosur (the Southern Cone Common Market, 1991), and the World Trade Organization (1995). In 1993, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was approved by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States . In the early 1990s, the nations of the European Union (the successor organization to the Common Market) undertook to remove all barriers to the free movement of trade and employment across their mutual borders ." </P> <P> In May 2004 the United States of America signed the American Free trade Agreement with five Central American nations . </P> <P> Air transport has become an indispensable part of modern society . People have come to use air transport both for long and middle distances, with the average route length of long distances being 720 kilometers in Europe and 1220 kilometers in the US . This industry annually carries 1.6 billion passengers worldwide, covers a 15 million kilometer network, and has an annual turnover of 260 billion dollars . </P>

Map of india on international highway of trade and commerce