European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is visiting Australia from Monday to Wednesday to try to finalize a free trade agreement between the European Union and Canberra, amid strong tensions over agricultural issues.
Brussels is highlighting the expected economic benefits, estimating that this agreement could increase European GDP by €4 billion by 2030 and eliminate most tariffs between the two partners. The stakes are also strategic, particularly for securing access to critical raw materials such as lithium, essential for the energy transition.
Persistent blockages in agriculture
Negotiations remain fragile, however, particularly regarding import quotas for Australian beef. The European Union wants to limit volumes to 30,000 tonnes, while Australia is demanding 40,000 tonnes per year, a major point of contention.
This issue is causing concern among European farmers, who are already mobilized against the EU-Mercosur agreement. Agricultural organizations are warning of a risk of increased competition and a challenge to European standards.
This visit is part of a broader EU strategy to diversify its trading partners in the face of economic pressure from China and protectionist US policies.
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