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From Friction to Free Trade Negotiations: Australia's Engagement with the European Union
Author(s) -
Murray Philomena
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
australian economic review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.308
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1467-8462
pISSN - 0004-9018
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8462.12353
Subject(s) - negotiation , european union , neglect , convergence (economics) , element (criminal law) , international trade , political science , free trade , international economics , economics , law and economics , political economy , law , psychology , economic growth , psychiatry
Following decades of skirmishes, Australia's relationship with the European Union (EU) has finally come of age. With the commencement of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, the outlook is promising for enhanced cooperation. Yet there are distinctive—and at times diverging—hierarchies of interests. This article argues that, although the EU and Australia regard each other as like‐minded partners, their interests and domestic pressures do not necessarily denote comprehensive convergence. This is due to the burden of memory, divergent concerns and values, some mutual neglect and an element of mutual misunderstanding .