Australia » International Relations

The Australia's Relations with International Community

Over recent decades, Australia's foreign relations have been driven by a close association with the United States, through the ANZUS pact and by a desire to develop relationships with Asia and the Pacific, particularly through ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum. In 2005 Australia secured an inaugural seat at the East Asia Summit following its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Australia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, in which the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings provide the main forum for co-operation. Much of Australia's diplomatic energy is focused on international trade liberalisation. Australia led the formation of the Cairns Group and APEC, and is a member of the OECD and the WTO.

Close engagement with Asia is an abiding priority in Australian foreign and trade policy. Japan, China, New Zealand and Korea, together with the US and UK, are Australia's six largest individual trading partners.

Trade and Investment with UK

Australian main export destinations are Japan, USA, and China. In the five years to June 2003, Australian merchandise exports have grown by an average of 6% per annum. Subdued economic growth in many of its major trading partners, and the appreciation of the Australian dollar against the US dollar saw the value of Australia's 2003 merchandise exports fall by almost 10% to AUS $108 billion, whilst imports increased 2% to AUS $130 billion.

Trade remains at the heart of the bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom. With extensive UK interests, Australia remains an important market for the UK it's 14th largest for goods, and third largest in the region after Japan and Hong Kong.