The impact on Australia of the 2004 EU enlargement highlighted a major change in the global economy. Previous EU enlargements, notably British accession in 1973, diverted trade from third countries such as Australia. After 2004, trade between Australia and new Eastern European EU members boomed. Deep integration allowed EU firms to create regional value chains. Cars produced in regional value chains, often with final assembly in Eastern Europe, are globally competitive. Reduced trade costs contributed to competitiveness, even in distant Australia, where Volkswagen, Audi, Peugeot and Holden cars are imported from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.