JUSCANZ is much like CANZUK in some ways- it is a political union that’s either supported or criticized by the public, media and the international community as a whole.
So what is it and if successful, will/would it happen?
JUSCANZ and CANZUK are very similar in many ways. They are both political unions that involve major non-EU countries, in an economic union, rather than a foreign policy one!
What is JUSCANZ?
JUSCANZ is a term used to describe a semi-official group of economically developed, non-EU, non-G-77 and non-NAM nations.
JUSCANZ’s name is comprised of it’s first founders (and largest members): Japan, Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand. Since then, it has expanded to more members than just those founding ones, including:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Iceland
- Israel (after much lobbying and promises, Israel joined in 2014)
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- Mexico
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Republic of Korea
- Singapore
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United States
There is also speculation that the UK may join the organization now that Brexit is done, however very little has been said of this lately.
The organization claims however, that it will only accept members that are “like-minded democracies” which caused some confusion during Israel’s bid to join.
(This is due to its questionable human rights records with the Israel-Palestine split.)
Another major issue for JUSCANZ is human rights. Many of their meetings contain sections on human rights, with even some being entirely dedicated to it!
This is why there was so much controversy with the addition of Israel to the bloc in 2014!
During meetings, there are no expectations that members agree or reach a consensus, rather sharing data and resolutions passed in the nation’s home country.
Unlike many other political organizations, the aim of the group isn’t to get foreign policy on the same track, rather, it is more of an information-sharing and quasi-economic union.
Currently, the group is headquartered at the United Nations headquarters in New York, with secondary offices in Nairobi and in Geneva.
The organization has also adopted several stances that go against the EU proposals in the WTO context, e.g. against the application of the precautionary principle in trade disputes.
It must also be stated that their membership is split between two committees. The second and third committees.
Both of these committees discuss different issues and have different members. Some members (especially founding ones) sit in on both, whilst others only participate in one.
The group typcially meet before big international meetings such as the G-7, G4, BRICS, G8 and G10 summits to discuss the agenda and anything that the other nations need to be aware of.
Much of what is said in these meetings are not written down, recorded or such and are only attended by high ranking diplomats from the member nations.
So who supports it?
Besides the members of JUSCANZ, almost no one supports the group becoming any bigger than it already is.
Whilst the group only operates as an outlet for information sharing by diplomats, there have been talks of a JUSCANZ Union (much like CANZUK) or free trade agreement.
Many countries (and other blocs such as the EU) have publicly denounced such a union or free trade agreement, citing international job loss and economic failure as a result.
Some people do believe, however, that the UK may support such a union in exchange for JUSCANZ membership. However, many people have pointed out the unlikeliness of such support, due to the perceived support of CANZUK by the British government after Brexit.
Others have also pointed out the lack of official response from the UK government, who haven’t even reached out to see if they could join.
It’s also unlikely, that the UK’s possible membership has been discussed by the current members. However, we may never know as countries aren’t obliged to reveal what is spoken about in JUSCANZ meetings!
Many media organizations have criticized it, either openly through their medium, or behind closed doors.
Several critics and analysts have applauded the current state of the union. However, they have criticized the notion that this may grow further towards being more free trade and acting more like a bloc.
They often cite that the founding five would only benefit from trading with one another as they already trade a significant amount already. However, others have pointed out that struggling industries like fishing would benefit greatly from a union like this!
Currently, no major politician(s) from any of the member countries have publicly said they’d back such a union.
However, many diplomats from member countries have publicly announced their support for such a union (however, many have cited that these diplomats served as their country’s JUSCANZ representative!)
Will it happen?
When referring to the potential free trade agreement, full economic union, freedom of movement etc. that has been proposed.
I would go as far to say that it will never go beyond what it is currently. Whilst it may indeed get more members or grow to encompass a bigger agenda than it may have already. It will never be any more.
Whilst it may one day be almost unrecognizable to what it is today, it will ultimately never become something bigger. It will never grow to become foreign policy and free trade oriented as some have suggested.
To put it in simple terms:
The people who have the power to try to enact the union don’t believe it will happen. Not even the founders (really) want it to happen! The only people who really openly support it, have a personal relationship with it!
And this is something that seems to be the general consensus!
Whilst I don’t believe that the bloc will ever become a true union in the way that some have suggested. It doesn’t mean I dislike the idea of it.
In fact, it is the complete opposite of it! I would actually love to see so many small countries, who won’t or can’t join other blocs form their own one!
Finally, we’d see the EU have some competition as JUSCANZ has several major economic powerhouses who can rival the economic powerhouses of the EU!
What do you think? Will JUSCANZ ever get bigger? Tell me in the comments!