Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell is set to hold high-stakes discussions with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic this Thursday, attempting to revive a stalled free-trade agreement between Australia and the European Union.
The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) summit in Melbourne. While the CPTPP—representing 15% of global GDP—is the main event, the bilateral talks with the EU are drawing significant attention.
Talks between Canberra and Brussels collapsed in 2023 due to disagreements over market access. The EU has resisted increasing quotas for Australian meat and dairy, while demanding Australia enforce strict geographical naming rights, which would restrict local producers from using terms like “feta” and “prosecco.”
Despite recent momentum sparked by global tariff concerns and positive sentiments from EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen in June, sources suggest a breakthrough this week is improbable. While goodwill exists, the fundamental sticking points regarding agricultural exports and naming rights remain unresolved.
Minister Farrell emphasized Australia’s commitment to “free and fair trade,” noting that the CPTPP provides a “gold standard” for diversifying Australian business. However, locking in a similar deal with the EU remains an elusive goal.
