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EU approves free trade
negotiations with Australia and NZ |
The European Union has
beaten Britain to the punch, formally approving
free trade negotiations with Australia. SBS News spoke exclusively with the
EU’s trade commissioner.
beaten Britain to the punch, formally approving
free trade negotiations with Australia. SBS News spoke exclusively with the
EU’s trade commissioner.
The
European Union will begin drafting a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia
and New Zealand in July, the EU trade commissioner has revealed.
European Union will begin drafting a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia
and New Zealand in July, the EU trade commissioner has revealed.
In
an exclusive interview with SBS News, Cecilia Malmström said she will travel to
Australia in June to “politically launch” talks with Trade Minister
Steven Ciobo, and the “technical work” will kick off in July.
an exclusive interview with SBS News, Cecilia Malmström said she will travel to
Australia in June to “politically launch” talks with Trade Minister
Steven Ciobo, and the “technical work” will kick off in July.
“We
will be working as quickly as possible, but I can’t tell you how long it will
take,” she said.
will be working as quickly as possible, but I can’t tell you how long it will
take,” she said.
Ms Malmström told
SBS News the FTA will be mutually beneficial for Australia and the
EU.
SBS News the FTA will be mutually beneficial for Australia and the
EU.
“Australia
will have access to the EU single market and 500 million people,” she
said.
will have access to the EU single market and 500 million people,” she
said.
“We
will be looking at facilitating trade in all areas – in goods and services,
public procurement.
will be looking at facilitating trade in all areas – in goods and services,
public procurement.
We
will also be talking about sustainable development, about energy, about
regulatory cooperation. So getting away with most hindrances that are between
us today.”
will also be talking about sustainable development, about energy, about
regulatory cooperation. So getting away with most hindrances that are between
us today.”
The
trade commissioner added that the FTA will ensure the EU has a presence in the
Asia-Pacific region.
trade commissioner added that the FTA will ensure the EU has a presence in the
Asia-Pacific region.
“Australia,
like many other countries, have gone into this renewed TPP (Trade-Pacific
Partnership). It is important for us to show that we are present in the region.
So it is a strategic decision as well,” she said.
like many other countries, have gone into this renewed TPP (Trade-Pacific
Partnership). It is important for us to show that we are present in the region.
So it is a strategic decision as well,” she said.
“We prepared
these negotiations long ago and there is a moment now when we are sort of
appearing to be a circle of friends who do believe in multilateralism, in good
trade agreements,” she said.
these negotiations long ago and there is a moment now when we are sort of
appearing to be a circle of friends who do believe in multilateralism, in good
trade agreements,” she said.
“And of course,
the EU and Australia share so many values and have so many things in common:
history, language, and you’re even in Eurovision now. So it’s high time
that we also have a trade agreement between us.”
the EU and Australia share so many values and have so many things in common:
history, language, and you’re even in Eurovision now. So it’s high time
that we also have a trade agreement between us.”
The European
Commission on Tuesday confirmed news of the FTA negotiations, first revealed by
SBS News.
Commission on Tuesday confirmed news of the FTA negotiations, first revealed by
SBS News.
“The Commission
welcomes today’s adoption by the Council of the negotiating directives for free
trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand. The preparations – which
included an impact assessment for both agreements – are now complete and formal
negotiations can begin,” the commission said in a statement.
welcomes today’s adoption by the Council of the negotiating directives for free
trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand. The preparations – which
included an impact assessment for both agreements – are now complete and formal
negotiations can begin,” the commission said in a statement.
Plans for
“fast-tracked” FTA negotiations were announced by European Commission president
Jean-Claude Juncker during his annual state of the union address to the
European Parliament in Strasbourg in September.
“fast-tracked” FTA negotiations were announced by European Commission president
Jean-Claude Juncker during his annual state of the union address to the
European Parliament in Strasbourg in September.
President Juncker
expressed a desire to complete negotiations and secure a deal before the next
European elections, which will take place in May, two months after Brexit.
expressed a desire to complete negotiations and secure a deal before the next
European elections, which will take place in May, two months after Brexit.
