Australia’s Interests in East Asia’s Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Abstract

This chapter reviews Australia’s strategic economic interests in RCEP. It explains Australia’s economic interests which are global but centred on East Asia. The chapter then explains Australia’s approach towards RCEP in the context of other agreements and arrangements it was pursuing in parallel. The management of the domestic politics of the agreement, as tensions increased in Australia–China relations, is then discussed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications for Australia’s diplomacy towards the East Asian economy and the RCEP members.