US EditionEU and Australia Near Completion of Pivotal Free Trade Agreement
The EU and Australia aim to finalize a trade deal after eight years, focusing on beef quotas, tariffs, and critical minerals access, with $57 billion in trade at stake.
- On March 23, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will arrive in Australia for a March 23–25 visit to advance trade talks, meeting in Canberra on March 24.
- Negotiations for the EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement began in 2018 and collapsed in 2023 over meat access, but the agreement is now in the 'final stretch', von der Leyen wrote on Monday.
- Australia has repeatedly pushed the EU to raise beef quotas, but talks broke down in 2023 when the EU offered 30,000 tonnes, while Australia sought 40,000 tonnes; an EU official said meat access could be linked to raw material supplies.
- While Albanese's office did not confirm a signing, Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell told Sky News on March 17 he is confident a deal can be announced soon after a recent meeting with EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, signaling progress.
- The trip positions the EU to diversify trade after recent deals with India, Mexico, Switzerland and Indonesia, as 83% of EU trade takes place beyond the US.
16 Articles
16 Articles
EU Commission President to Visit Australia as Trade Deal Edges Closer
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will visit Australia from March 23-25 alongside European Union (EU) Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic. The announcement was made on March 18 by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who said it would be von der Leyen’s first trip in her capacity as European Commission president. Albanese said the relationship between Australia and the EU was built on a sh…
EU President Ursula Von Der Leyen to Visit Australia from March 23 to 25
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. European Union President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia from March 23-25, as per an official statement by the delegation of the European Union to Australia. World News | EU President Ursula Von Der Leyen to Visit Australia from March 23 to 25.
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