8-1 Global Economic Integration Current frameworks of regional and global economic integration date back to the end of World War II. The world community was mindful of the mercantilist trade wars in the 1930s. which worsened the Great Depression and eventually led to, World War II. two new developments after the war were initiated to prevent repeat of these circumstances. Globally. the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was created in 1918. In Europe. regional integration started in 1951. Both developments proved so successful that they are now considerably expanded: one became the World Trade Organization(WTO). and the other the EU.