Australian red meat exports to Europe are set to rise tenfold under a historic free trade pact that has been eight years in the making, while producers will be able to use names such as prosecco, feta and halloumi despite a longstanding European push to restrict the use of these so-called “geographic indicators”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday to finalise the long-awaited Australia-EU free trade deal before becoming the first woman to address a joint sitting of the Australian parliament.
As well as the free trade pact, Australia and the EU are expected to strike a new defence and security partnership while securing access for Australian universities and companies to the world’s largest research and innovation program.
The biggest point of contention in the free trade negotiations has been Australian producers’ freedom to sell beef, lamb, sugar and cheese to Europe’s 450 million consumers without punishing tariffs and quotas.
Sources familiar with the negotiations said Australian exporters would now be able to sell between 30,000 and 35,000 tonnes of beef to Europe a year, up from the current annual quota of 3389 tonnes.
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