EU-Australia Free Trade Deal Collapses, Negotiations Stalled Indefinitely

The free trade deal between the European Union (EU) and Australia has collapsed, with negotiations potentially pausing for years. The talks, which began in 2018, have repeatedly stumbled over market access for Australian agricultural products such as beef and sheep meat. Australian agriculture minister Murray Watt stated that the EU negotiators had refused to make necessary concessions during the latest round of talks. It is unlikely that negotiations will resume during the current term of parliament, indicating a potential delay until after the 2025 general election. The EU remains ready to continue negotiations, but Australia's re-tabled agricultural demands did not reflect recent negotiations, according to the European Commission.