Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell travels to Brussels to push forward EU-Australia free trade negotiations amid hopes for a deal in coming weeks.
Farrell’s Mission to Brussels
– I don’t make bad deals – said Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell just before his departure to Brussels. In the EU capital, the politician met with commissioners for trade and agriculture over the weekend. Farrell’s goal was clear, though not easy to achieve: to push forward free trade agreement negotiations.
EU’s Trade Ambitions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hopes that an agreement limiting trade barriers can be reached within the next few weeks. In case of success, this would be the third major deal finalized by Brussels this year, after those with Mercosur and India; both should come into force still this year.
Challenges Ahead
Whether this feat will succeed for the third time will depend on the willingness to reach a compromise on divisive issues.
