Anthony Albanese’s warning on Australia-EU free trade talks

The Prime Minister is this week in Europe for the NATO summit in Lithuania, but he will also have bilateral meetings with other leaders where the EU trade deal will be raised.

The trade agreement talks have dragged on for five years amid clashes over the names of Australian produced wine and cheese.

Europe wants to restrict the naming of products such as prosecco, mozzarella, feta and parmesan to those made within specific regions, barring Australian producers from using them.

Australia is fighting for our farmers and producers to be able to use the names.

Mr Albanese will have a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, where he will raise the trade deal.

“My message to President Macron will be that we want to conclude this agreement, but that we won’t be signing up to things that are not in Australia’s national interest,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Berlin.

“In particular, we want access to European markets and we want to have the mutual benefit that comes from free trade between Australia and Europe.”

A potential trade deal will be worth an estimated $100bn, but Australian officials are willing to walk away if the EU does not offer more substantial market access for Australian beef, sheep meat, sugar and dairy.

Trade Minister Don Farrell, who is currently in Brussels amid “difficult” negotiations, has also flagged he will not stand for what is currently being offered.

“I want to secure a fair, long-term agreement that lasts us into the future and is in both of our interests – Australia and the European Union,” he said.

“I will not go back to Australia with the offer that’s currently on the table.”

Despite Mr Farrell indicating that negotiations may extend into the second half of the year, Mr Albanese had a more positive outlook on the process.

“France, of course, has raised some issues, but I’m confident that they can be worked through and I’ll be having an open and constructive discussion with President Macron,” he said.

“But we’re not asking for anything that other countries have not received, it is important that Australia get access to those markets and the world benefits from trade.”

Mr Albanese, who spent Monday and Tuesday in Germany, also discussed the EU trade deal with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“I thanked Chancellor Scholz for Germany’s support for an ambitious agreement that delivers for Australian and German businesses, workers and their families,” the Prime Minister said on Monday night.

“Ultimately, our negotiations with the EU will only be concluded when we have a good deal, and one that includes new market access for our agricultural products.