Australia’s trade minister has warned the EU that he will not sign off on a trade deal unless the bloc opens its market to more Australian farm products — while hailing the thawing relations between Canberra and Beijing. Don Farrell told the Financial Times ahead of talks in Brussels that an agreement with the bloc was only achievable if the EU backed down on its demands not to expose its farmers to competition. Australia, meanwhile, had extended an “olive branch” to China on its trade disputes, he said.
“We’re going to be a renewable superpower,” he said. “The Europeans have to play ball. Do they want to be part of the future or do they want to stick their head in the ground and remain part of the past?”
Among the specific EU demands is a reduced use of protected products such as parmesan and prosecco by Australian producers and a luxury car tax of 33 per cent on imports.