This week I will travel to Brussels to advance negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the European Union (EU).
While in Brussels I will meet my counterpart, Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, as well as the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski.
A trade agreement with the EU would unlock an overall market of 445 million people and a GDP of $24 trillion. As a bloc, the EU is Australia's third-largest trading partner, with total two-way trade (goods and services) worth $97 billion in 2021-22.
Concluding an ambitious trade deal between like-minded partners is important at a time of mounting geo-political uncertainty.
Negotiations remain difficult and have reached a point where issues vital to Australia's national interest must be improved.
The Government remains strongly committed to the best possible deal for Australian businesses, farmers, workers and the broader community.
I am prepared to persist even if it means the negotiations extend into the second half of this year.
