Farm Online | 17 March 2026
'Home stretch' for EU trade talks, but meat access remains the final hurdle
By Jason Gregory
Australia and the European Union have moved back into the "end game" of long-running free trade negotiations, with momentum building after a fresh ministerial push and leaders poised to step in to attempt to reach a final agreement.
Media reports out of Europe suggest that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could meet as soon as next week in Canberra to determine whether the remaining barriers can be resolved.
The news follows Trade Minister Don Farrell saying that he held a "productive" call on Monday night with European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. The optimistic stance follows intensive talks between the pair in Brussels last month where progress was made but stopped short of reaching an in-principle deal.
The negotiations, which formally began in 2018, collapsed when a deal was close in 2023, and remain stalled over the same politically sensitive issues in agricultural market access, particularly beef and sheepmeat quotas, as well as geographical indications.
It is believed that while the Europeans have placed an improved offer for red-meat quotas and import conditions for exporters on the table, questions hang over whether the deal will ultimately fall short of industry expectations. ACM understands that it is closer to being signed now than at any time since the book opened on negotiations.
Mr Farrell told Sky on Tuesday afternoon that the pair went through all of the outstanding issues during Monday's call and said "I think there are ways through all of those remaining issues".
"And I'm confident that if there's goodwill on our part and also from the Europeans that, in the very near future, we'll be able to announce a free-trade agreement with the Europeans," he said.
A source familiar with the situation described the talks as being in the "end game" and "very close".
It was also suggested Ms von der Leyen and Mr Albanese could meet in Australia, Europe or on the sidelines of an upcoming event, with timing still fluid amid competing global pressures, including escalating instability in the Middle East complicating scheduling and optics.
Bloomberg reported overnight that, in a letter to EU leaders, Ms von der Leyen, who is not believed to have locked in travel plans as yet, suggested discussions towards a deal with Australia were "in the final stretch".
"This will mark yet another milestone in diversifying Europe's international partnerships," she wrote.
She added that the accord would enhance "Europe's ability to shape global standards and ensure resilient supply chains".
The EU has recently struck major agreements with the Mercosur bloc and India, and is pursuing further deals as it recalibrates its trade strategy amid shifting global alliances and economic uncertainty.
For Australia, the agreement is expected to unlock greater access to a market worth more than $100 billion in annual two-way trade, while strengthening economic ties at a time of heightened geopolitical risk.
The government is also eyeing a potential visit to Canberra by Ms von der Leyen as another big win following Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressing Federal Parliament earlier this month.
However, expectations that Ms von der Leyen would travel to Australia in January to finalise the deal did not eventuate. The Europeans were believed to be behind leaks to the media that suggested the trip was imminent, which is taken as both a negotiating tactic and a positive signs, as with the current situation.
The elevation of the talks to leader level is also a sign that the remaining obstacles are political rather than technical, requiring direct trade-offs between competing domestic interests.
Mr Farrell said it was more important than ever, in the face of Donald Trump's shake-up of the global order, to "demonstrate to the rest of the world that there are countries that still believe in free and fair free trade".
"Europe really is the last key to all that, and I'm hopeful that, as I say, with some goodwill over the next few weeks, that we can get an agreement across the line," he said.
However, the core political dilemma remains unresolved.
Australian negotiators have made it clear they will not accept marginal improvements in quotas, arguing that any deal must deliver tangible commercial benefits for producers. Brussels is under pressure to shield domestic producers and is facing strong resistance from countries, such as France and Ireland, wary of increased competition from Australian imports.
Geographical indicators also remain contentious but solvable, should the quotas be ironed out, with the EU seeking protections over product names linked to specific regions, a position that has raised concerns among Australian food producers.
Despite the challenges, both sides are clearly wanting to push through to a conclusion.
