Final answer:
Trade blocs aim to enhance economic cooperation among member countries, enabling resource pooling and improving product production, as opposed to protectionist measures that can raise consumer prices and hurt domestic producers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trade blocs help countries in several ways, including allowing the pooling of resources, improving product production, and potentially reducing the costs of goods for consumers. Conversely, protectionist measures such as tariffs, import quotas, and non-tariff barriers are used by countries to restrict the flow of trade, though these tactics can lead to higher prices for consumers and losses for domestic producers who can't export as much.
Trade blocs create agreements among member countries that may reduce trade barriers like tariffs and quotas, which leads to more efficient production and resource allocation. By combining their economic resources, countries in a trade bloc can achieve larger economies of scale, potentially leading to improved product production, and consumers benefit from a wider variety of goods and potentially lower prices.
On balance, while trade restrictions may protect certain industries within a country, trade blocs aim to enhance trade, stimulate economic growth, and create jobs across member nations.