Sunday, 9 July 2023
EU trade deal must be in national interest, not for the Prime Minister’s travel itinerary
“The timetable for finalising the Australia – European Union Free Trade Agreement should not be around the Prime Minister’s travel plans.
“A trade agreement with the EU must provide significant market access for Australian agricultural products.
“There must be no compromise on the EU’s demands on geographical indicators,” Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism, the Hon Kevin Hogan MP said today.
This follows news that the Minister for Trade and Tourism has headed to Brussels overnight to finalise the trade deal with the Prime Minister due in Europe this week.
“A trade agreement must include a roadmap to fully liberalised trade in exchange for preferential access to our critical minerals.
“This is not just for today’s exporters but generations of exporters over the next 50 plus years.
“And it must not include a long list of EU ‘conditions’ on Australian exports such as restricting beef exports to grass fed beef only.
“There are genuine concerns in the ag sector that the EU is seeking to export its view of farming through this free trade agreement. The EU’s conditionality requirements have no place here and must be strenuously rejected by the PM and the Minister for Trade and Tourism.
“Simply put, unless the EU makes a vastly improved offer from its previously only weeks old attempt, it is not a trade deal worth doing. Not even if it suits the PM’s travel agenda.”
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Media contact: Kevin Hogan – 0428 291 307 or Alison Penfold – 0408 633 026
