Australia is reopening talks about free trade with the European Union

Australia is preparing for trade talks with the European Union.

• The EU has agreed to revisit negotiations.
• EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic proposed planning for a new timeline for reopening talks in an hour-long meeting with Australian counterpart Don Farrell via video link on Wednesday evening.

Two years ago extensive negotiations collapsed over disagreements about agricultural access to the EU’s 450 million customers.

Trade Minister Don Farrell is reopening talks about free trade with the European Union.

Trade Minister Don Farrell is reopening talks about free trade with the European Union.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

In contrast, Defence Minister Richard Marles rejected Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian’s offer to “join hands” with Australia to respond to Trump’s tariffs

• "We’re not about to make common cause with China – that’s not what’s going to happen here”

• Instead, Australia was trying to diversify its trading partners while stabilising its trade relationship with China.

Info comes via local media here in Oz.