Comunidad del pacífico en perspectiva - Volumen 2

AN AUSTR.ALIAN VIEW OF THE PACIFIC BASIN serious implications for the economic development of the Pacif](, BasÍn. The regíon has· ah::eady suffered from major price rises in the past and, although it has to a large degree recovered, it would be unwise to assume that price movements have now ceased. If to this is added the risks of limitations of physicaI suppIy, the possibiIities for economic disruption are evident. 4., 1s the Pacífic Ocean a Barrier'l Although the great explorers may have regarded the Pacific Ocean as a barrier to communication and trade -and indeed many 01 them had disappointing, often tragic results to show for their efforts- it has been demonstrated that the ocean is manifestly no longer a barrier in so far as the Asian Pacific is concerned. The existing trade routes most commonly cross the ocean hori– zontally along routes north of the Equator and vertically on both the Western and Eastern rims. The diagonal routes must, however, not be forgouen and the experience of a number of countries should be examined. On the Western rim, Australia, China and Japan are major traders on these routes: Australia exports meat, wool, metals and chemical to the u.s. and imports sophisticated machinery and consumer goods. China has opened modest trading links with Chile primaril y for the purpose of importing copper and nitrates. Japan is probably the prime example of willingness to trade with Latín American countries. Japanese influence in Brazil is well known and has influenced the significant passage oI materials and manufactures through the Panama Canal. How– ever, it is clearly in Japan's interest to diversify its raw mate– rial supplies and therefore J apan is also prepared to invest across a broad front in raw materials projects. The need to ensure access to the Peruvian and Chilean fishing grounds would be an additional motivating factor. On the Easternrim, the North American countries of u.s. and Canada have the most· substantial diagonal trade across the Paci– fic. Tradebetween Australia and North America alone amounted to about A$ 4,000 billion in 1977/78. 8S