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| Image Source: France 24 |
A free trade deal between the European Union and Australia has unraveled despite initial hope, with Canberra saying on Monday that it could be years before talks can resume.
Since 2018,
hard-fought talks have picked up everything from chemicals to cosmetics, but
there has been repeated disagreement over market access for Australian products
such as beef and lamb.
Australian
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said EU negotiators had refused to budge
during the latest round of talks on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit
in Japan.
"Unfortunately
we didn't get the impetus we needed from the European Union," he told
national broadcaster ABC on Monday.
Watt said
negotiations were unlikely to resume during "this current term of
Parliament" – indicating the Australian government may not return to the
negotiating table until after the 2025 general election.
Watt added,
"I think it's going to take a long time for the Australian government or
any EU leadership to negotiate a deal. And that's a bit of a shame."
A European
Commission spokesman said it was hopeful of a deal in Osaka but Australia had
"represented agricultural demands that do not reflect recent
negotiations".
The European
Commission is ready to continue negotiations, the Commission said in a
statement.
French Trade
Minister Olivier Bechet flagged "many positive developments" late
last week, raising hopes that a deal could be reached.
The two sides
clashed over how far Europe should open its markets to Australian exports of
sheep meat, beef and sugar.
At the same
time, Europe wants better access to Australia's rich reserves of "key
minerals", reducing its reliance on Russia and China for clean energy
products such as wind turbines and electric car batteries.
In July, the
two sides failed to reach an agreement during talks in Brussels, with Australia
saying it was not guaranteed "significant" access to the European
market for its agricultural products.
(Courtesy: France 24)
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