EU Commission head Von der Leyen to visit Australia as trade deal nears

Judging by the article, in exchange for access to the European market for lamb and beef, Europe wants greater access to mineral resources and to export industrial goods to Australia with reduced tariffs. What has changed in Europe since 2023, when similar negotiations were suspended?

Europe is finally learning who their friends are

>The EU has pushed for lower tariffs on manufactured goods, particularly cars, ​and improved access ​to Australia’s ⁠critical minerals to reduce reliance on China.

Interesting. Quite good news, if the mineral aspects work out. Ever since the Chinese export stop for rare earths during the orange trade spasm, industry got nervous about varied supply. Win-win, if Australia is on board.

Depends if the EU wants to provide what Australia is looking for which is a [minimum of 67,000t/yr of access into the EU](https://www.sheepcentral.com/red-meat-sector-and-nff-up-ante-on-eu-trade-outcome/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20genuinely%20trade%20enhancing%20FTA%20must%20go%20a%20long%20way%20toward%20addressing%20this%20imbalance%20by%20securing%20at%20least%20a%20minimum%20of%2067%2C000%20tonnes), If they don’t agree it’ll fall apart again as Australia isn’t going to accept a subpar deal.

But with how backlash was occurring over the Mercosur deal, I don’t expect any where near that number to be offered.

By Reuters

March 18, 2026 7:18 AM GMT+1 Updated 3 hours ago

BRUSSELS, March 18 (Reuters) – European ​Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia ‌to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese next week, when the two sides are likely to conclude negotiations on a [free trade agreement](https://www.reuters.com/business/australia-eu-signal-progress-trade-negotiations-2026-03-16/).

Both sides have ​signalled progress after previous talks between Australia and the ​EU collapsed in 2023, mainly over the size of ⁠meat import quotas into the European Union.

The European Commission, the ​EU executive body, said in a statement that von der ​Leyen’s visit from March 23 to 25 was intended to “strengthen EU ties with a trusted, like-minded partner in the strategically vital Indo-Pacific region.”

Australia said ​Albanese would meet von der Leyen, who will be accompanied ​by EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic, in Canberra on Tuesday on her first ‌trip ⁠to the country as European Commission president.

Australia has been seeking greater quotas for lamb and beef exports to Europe. The EU has pushed for lower tariffs on manufactured goods, particularly cars, ​and improved access ​to Australia’s ⁠critical minerals to reduce reliance on China. The two sides launched negotiations in 2018.

Total goods trade ​between the EU and Australia was 47.2 billion ​euros ($57 ⁠billion) in 2025, with the EU having a surplus of 26.5 billion euros. For services, trade totalled 38.1 billion euros in ⁠2023, with ​the EU also enjoying a surplus ​of 17.9 billion euros.

($1 = 0.8675 euros)

Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, ​Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Makini Brice and Timothy Heritage

she is horribly incompetent, but she could negotiate free economic and work partnership, so I can move there, drink and fight cangaroos.