As negotiations take place in Brussels this week for an Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement, Australia’s peak farm body welcomes comments by Trade Minister Don Farrell that the deal hinges on securing a better deal for Australian Agriculture.
Minister Farell told Parliament last week the deal “would require a better offer by the EU on agricultural market access”.
National Farmers’ Federation President Hamish McIntyre said Australian farmers would hold the Minister to these comments against a growing fear that Australian agriculture is about to be traded away.
“The Government has set a clear bar as we enter the final stages of these negotiations – no deal is better than a bad deal for Australian agriculture,” Mr McIntyre said.
“This deal is clearly at the pointy end, and the Government should not flinch on the standard they have now set. A one-sided EU agreement would lock in decades of disadvantage for Australian farmers.
“At the end of the day, how does the Government explain to Australian farming families that it agreed to a deal that not only harms them against European competitors, but leaves them worse off than other nations doing business with the EU?”
The NFF said recent developments in Europe only heightened concerns for Australian producers.
“As negotiations approach a potential conclusion, we are concerned the EU will continue to offer limited access for Australian producers while relying on billion-dollar, production-distorting subsidies. This would be a double blow for Australian farmers,” Mr McIntyre said.
“We saw the EU fast-track nearly $80 billion in farm subsidies to sign an agreement with Mercosur nations. The risk for Australia is being offered limited access while our European competitors might receive billions more in subsidises – a double blow for Australian farming families.”
Mr McIntyre said Australian agriculture could not compete on an uneven playing field.
“Australian farmers can compete with anyone in the world, but not against subsidised production unless trade agreements deliver genuine, commercially meaningful access.”
Mr McIntyre said the timing of the negotiations could not be more critical.
“Global trade uncertainty is stacking up as a real threat to farm profitability as we head into 2026. Between China’s beef tariffs, ongoing trade volatility in the United States and rising export costs imposed domestically, now is not the time to accept weak market access.
“Australia can’t control other countries’ trade policy, but we do control the deals we sign. Accepting a bad deal would undermine our commitment to open, liberalised trade and set a damaging precedent for future trade agreements.
“We cannot credibly call on others to liberalise trade while settling for an agreement that fails to recognise the economic and sustainability benefits of open agricultural markets.”
Ashleigh Whittaker
Stacey Davidson