ocr: Australia' 's international focus has shitte d from Europe and the USAtoward Asia. Geopolitically: iti is in an ambiguous position. Having lost its place as a maj or tra ding partner for the UK when the latter joined the EEC, Australia has found that it is still regarded as a European outsider by the Asian nations with which it wishes to foster closer links. Australia has taken practical steps to re define its role. It was the main backer ofthe 1989 Asia PacticEconomic Co-operation forum (APEC), an attempt to create a multlateralregional trading bloc, similar to the EU and NAFTA. Aft er a falt ...
