The European Commissioners for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, and Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, met Don Farrell, Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism, for the sixth time on Thursday 12 February in Brussels, in order to make progress in the negotiations for a free trade agreement (see EUROPE 13654/17). In the evening, the European Commission indicated that these negotiations will continue on Friday.
“Australia has always been a trading nation, and the Albanese Labor Government is committed to opening up new markets for our exporters, delivering more well-paying jobs across our economy, and cutting costs at the checkout for Australians”, the Australian Minister said in a statement on the eve of the meeting.
“At a time of global uncertainty, both Australia and the EU recognise the need to strengthen our economic and strategic partnership”.
Don Farrell said that any agreement had to include “new, commercially meaningful market access for our agricultural producers”, which remains the main obstacle for Australian negotiators.
The latter are calling for meaningful quotas of commodities, particularly beef and also sheep meat, dairy and sugar. The thorny issue of geographical indications is seen as solvable once the agriculture access riddle is unlocked.
If the negotiations are finalised, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, could travel to Australia to officially sign an agreement with a potential value of 110 billion Australian dollars (around €65.7 billion) with Mr Albanese. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)