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- Negotiations and agreementsTrade policy
On 22 May 2018, the Council of the European Union adopted the decision authorising the opening of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Australia.
So far the EU and Australia have been conducting their trade and economic relations under the 2008 EU-Australian Partnership Framework. This aims to facilitate trade in industrial products between the EU and Australia by reducing technical barriers and improve trade in services and investment.
EU-Australia agreement
The EU-Australia Trade Agreement in focus.
Trade picture
- Australia ranked as the 19th largest trade in goods partner of the EU, while the EU represented Australia's 3rd largest trading partner in 2020, after China and Japan and before the US. Total trade in goods account for €36 billion in 2020 (EU surplus of €24 bn), and total trade in services add another €26 billion in 2019.(EU surplus €10 bn).
- EU bilateral trade with Australia and New Zealand together is about roughly the same size as with Mexico or Canada. To be noted that the EU has a longstanding trade surplus with Australia also for agricultural and processed agricultural products when taken together (€2 034 m in 2020) so is not in all areas defensive on agricultural products.
The EU and Australia
The EU and Australia concluded the negotiations for a political Framework Agreement which contains a number of economic and trade cooperation arrangements.
The annual senior official-level Trade Policy Dialogue regularly meets to discuss bilateral trade relations.
There is a Mutual Recognition Agreement between the EU and Australia to facilitate trade in industrial products by reducing technical barriers. The agreement creates mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures. This is done to reduce the cost of testing and certifying of exports and imports.
Australia is part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Trading with Australia
- Importing into the EU from Australia
- EU trade defence measures on imports from Australia
- Exporting from the EU to Australia
- Trade relations are part of the EU's overall political and economic relations with Australia
- Australia is a member of the World Trade Organization
Exporters' stories
Czechia - Czech airplanes soaring their way to Australia
Increased exports mean BRM Aero produces around 80 airplanes a year, a number which is steadily growing. If the EU and Australia were to sign a trade agreement, orders would be likely to grow further still.
Latest news
Commission reports on eleventh negotiating round with Australia
The European Commission today published the report summarising progress made during the latest negotiation round for the EU-Australia trade agreement.
Commission reports on ninth negotiating round with Australia
As part of its transparency commitment, the European Commission today published the report summarising progress made during the latest negotiation round for the EU-Australia trade agreement.
Commission reports on eighth negotiating round with Australia
As part of its transparency commitment, the European Commission today published the report summarising progress made during the latest negotiation round for the EU-Australia trade agreement.