The research analyzes the current trends in the development of international legal regulation of the activities of customs unions and the prospects for such regulation, and provides possible options for the development of practical changes on the geopolitical map of the world. Over the past decades, regional economic integration has grown rapidly, in particular in the form of customs unions established in Europe and the Middle East, in Latin American and African continents. At the same time, negotiations are under way on the conclusion of dozens of new regional agreements, which provide for mutual preferential access to the markets of the participating countries, as well as resolving a wide range of issues that go far beyond purely trade issues and include cooperation in the field of investment, transport, standardization, etc.. The proliferation of regional economic agreements affecting the interests of many states that were outside this or that association raised the need to develop international rules for their creation and operation in order to minimize the losses of outsider countries. These rules are binding on all WTO members. The logic of the development of trade and economic cooperation in Eastern Europe, the long-term geo-economic and trade-political interests of Ukraine dictate the need to create a capable regional integration association with Ukrainian participation. The earlier efforts in this direction were inconsistent and did not give the desired effects. Therefore, there is a growing need for a thorough study of existing foreign experience. It is necessary to find out the factors contributing to or, conversely, hindering regional economic integration, in particular through customs unions, studying international rules for the conclusion of relevant agreements, and generalizing the strategy and tactics of carrying out integration measures by foreign countries in order to distinguish useful experience for Ukraine and develop it on its basis of practical recommendations. The work is a scientific study of customs unions at the present stage. The dissertation has developed ideas of development and activity of customs unions in different parts of the world in terms of system and axiological approaches. The principles of customs unions' activities and their international legal regulation are explored, the main approaches of the bodies of these customs unions to the solution of the tasks set before them are determined, the stages of formation and development of the activity of these customs unions are determined, the ties of Ukraine with the customs unions of different parts of the world, as well as an analysis of possible contacts and participation of Ukraine with customs unions. The role of the states of different parts of the world in the creation and their participation in customs unions is revealed, and the role of international organizations in regulating the activities of customs unions is shown. On the basis of the analysis and synthesis of theoretical positions and the synthesis of theoretical and legal acts, regional and international peculiarities of customs unions and customs organizations are outlined as the basis of an effective system of customs law in international law. The characteristics of Ukraine's actions in the customs organization and customs unions in which it participates are given.
