Overview
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Sydney for a three‑day visit that includes meetings in Canberra and an address to Australia’s parliament.
- Trade ministers Don Farrell and Maros Sefcovic are meeting to try to close the agreement, with a signing widely expected but not yet confirmed.
- The toughest unresolved issues are greater EU market access for Australian beef and lamb and European protections for geographic indications covering products like cheese and wine.
- Australia has floated scrapping its luxury car tax on European vehicles in exchange for improved agricultural access to EU markets.
- Canberra frames the pact as part of export diversification after past Chinese trade blocks, with officials estimating an initial A$10 billion boost to trade in the first year.