Despite the recent focus on Asia, the relationship with the European Union (EU) has, between 1991 and 1995, remained very important to Australia in a number of ways. These have been years when the EU has established and maintained its place as Australia’s largest economic partner if investment is added to merchandise and service trade. The EU is the world’s largest trader, accounting for 20 per cent of world trade (as compared with the United States at 16.3 per cent, and Japan at 8.2 per cent). Further, the EU is the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) and one of Australia’s largest partners in trade in goods and services. For the EU, Australia is a growing market and provider of direct foreign investment and a potential base for EU companies in the Asia-Pacific region.