Sixth Ministerial Council Meet on Trade & Investment

1. Commonwealth, State and Territory Trade and Investment Ministers met on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation at Investment Centre Victoria in Melbourne on 11 June 2026, for the sixth meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment (the Council).
2. Amid disruption to global energy markets and supply chains due to the conflict in the Middle East, Ministers emphasised the importance of open markets and rules-based trade to protect the Australian economy from supply chain disruptions and minimise impacts on investment and trade.
3. Ministers discussed the range of measures Australia has already taken to support domestic fuel security, including release of the National Fuel Security Plan to coordinate a consistent response across the Commonwealth, States and Territories; international engagement with key trading partners to shore up fuel supply; conclusion of negotiations with Singapore on the Protocol on Economic Resilience and Essential Supplies to the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement; and strengthening Australia's fuel supply now and into the future through a $14.8 billion Strengthening Australia's Fuel Resilience Package.
4. Ministers welcomed the Commonwealth's commitment to strengthening Australia's trade resilience through targeted programs, noting this required close collaboration between government and industry to ensure Australian exporters could continue to succeed in global markets. Ministers acknowledged the Accessing New Markets Initiative, which builds resilience by diversifying Australia's exporter base, and the Trade Resilience Service, which delivers practical insights to Australian exporters to navigate increased supply chain volatility.
5. The Council welcomed recent cooperative initiatives with regional partners including Brunei, Japan, Korea and Malaysia to enhance our energy security and contribute to the economic resilience of Australia and the region.
6. WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who addressed the Council on 10 June, acknowledged the global economy was currently experiencing the worst disruptions in 80 years, and highlighted the importance of updating the multilateral trading system to ensure it can continue to underpin prosperity by providing businesses the predictable trading environment they need to operate. Reflecting on these remarks, Ministers reaffirmed Australia's leadership in upholding the rules, norms and standards which underpin global trade, and recognised Australia's efforts in driving the adoption of the groundbreaking interim E-Commerce Agreement by 66 economies at the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference.
7. Ministers acknowledged Australia's comprehensive network of 20 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that support trade diversification and contribute to rules-based trade:
   1. welcoming the conclusion of negotiations for a balanced and comprehensive FTA with the European Union, which will see 97.8 per cent of Australia's goods exports enter the EU duty-free when it enters into force;
   2. noting the positive impact of the Australia-United Arab Emirates FTA since it entered into force in October 2025;
   3. acknowledging the progress being made on negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with India; and
   4. noting the substantial conclusion of Costa Rica's accession to CPTPP, announced on 6 May.
8. With its regional proximity and long-standing connections to Australia, Ministers agreed that deepening economic engagement and expanding trade and investment links with Fiji and the broader Pacific region presented further opportunities for Australia's prosperity. Ministers were briefed by Fiji's Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Ditoka on Fiji's international economic engagement agenda, and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.
9. At a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the global economy and the dynamics of global trade, Ministers participated in a strategic discussion with Ms Johanna Weaver, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Tech Policy Design Institute. Ministers discussed the need to bolster Australia's domestic AI capabilities and ensure an AI-enabled economy that is globally competitive and resilient, including by attracting investment and supporting AI-related innovation and exports. Ministers welcomed the release of the National AI Plan in December 2025, which provides a framework for building a prosperous AI-enabled economy anchored in three goals: capturing the opportunities of AI, spreading its benefits, and keeping Australians safe. Ministers also welcomed the release of the Expectations of Data Centres and AI Infrastructure Developers in March 2026, to incentivise investment into Australia that is consistent with our national interests.
10. Ministers noted Australia's comparative advantages in developing and deploying AI, including our world‑class research institutions, strong regulatory and governance frameworks, trusted democratic institutions, and access to critical technologies and skills. These strengths mean Australia is well-placed to secure positions in global AI supply chains and to play a leadership role in the responsible and inclusive adoption of AI in our region. Ministers recognised the Commonwealth, States and Territories will need to work together to ensure trade and investment settings can facilitate the opportunities and mitigate the risks associated with AI for all Australians.
11. Ministers acknowledged the importance of India as an emerging partner for Australia's economic and trade diversification interests, reflecting our nations' strong complementarity in clean energy, education and skills, agriculture and resources. Ministers agreed to establish a first-ever working group under the Council's architecture dedicated to a whole-of-nation approach to unlock trade and investment opportunities with India under the New Roadmap for Australia's Economic Engagement with India.
12. Ministers confirmed the outcomes of coordinated initiatives on national trade and investment including:
    1. participation in events such as the China International Import Expo 2025 in Shanghai, Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, and Food Hospitality Asia 2026 in Singapore, included in the calendar of Team Australia trade and investment promotion activities;
    2. work underway with the Australian Bureau of Statistics to explore options to address gaps in State and Territory-level trade and investment data; and
    3. implementation of joint initiatives as outlined in the National Statement on First Nations Trade and Investment including promoting and showcasing opportunities for First Nations businesses under Australia's FTAs.
13. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Australian Export Awards in showcasing Australian innovation and recognising Australian exporters' success on the global stage, noted program changes for the 64th Australian Export Awards, and confirmed their support and shared objectives and priorities for the program.
14. The Council's site visit to the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne's biomedical precinct showcased how collaboration between government, business and academia is translating cutting-edge research into commercial outcomes, attracting investment and building export capability in Australia's biomedical sector.
15. Ministers looked forward to meeting again in six months to review progress and future priorities.

Ministerial Attendees

• Australian Government (Chair): Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State
• Victoria (Co-host): the Hon Steve Dimopoulos MP, Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs; and Minister for Sport and Major Events
• New South Wales: the Hon Anoulack Chanthivong, Minister for Industry and Trade; Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading; Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology; Minister for Building; and Minister for Corrections
• Northern Territory: the Hon Robyn Cahill OAM, Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations; Minister for International Education, Migration and Population; Minister for Workforce Development; Minister for Advanced Manufacturing; Minister for Children and Families; Minister for Child Protection; Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence
• Queensland: the Hon Rosslyn Bates MP, Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training
• South Australia: the Hon Chris Picton MP, Minister for State Development; Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy; Minister for Defence and Space Industries; and Minister for Veterans' Affairs
• Tasmania: the Hon Guy Barnett MP, Deputy Premier; Attorney-General; Minister for Justice, Corrections and Rehabilitation; and Minister for Small Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs
• Western Australia: Mr Daniel Pastorelli MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier; Minister for State Development; Trade and Investment; Economic Diversification; Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet
• Australian Capital Territory: Mr Jonathan Kobus, Acting Executive Group Manager, Policy and Strategy, Economic Development Directorate, ACT Government attended on behalf of Mr Andrew Barr MLA, Chief Minister; Minister for Economic Development; and Minister for Tourism