The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, flying to a distant land to seal, with the leader of a foreign power, a trade agreement criticized by the EU agricultural sector… This scene could be replayed in the coming days. The German head of the European executive plans to go to Australia in mid-February in order to conclude a free trade negotiation opened in 2018 with this country on the borders of the Pacific. And this, just a month after the signing of the controversial treaty lowering customs duties on trade with Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay).
In the agreement currently being finalized with Australia, agriculture is indeed on the menu. And fears of heightened competition seem relevant for certain European sectors. A major agricultural country, Australia is among the world’s leading exporters of beef and sheep meat, such as lamb.