Australian Farmers Cautious as EU Trade Deal Nears

Australia’s agricultural community is on edge as a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) nears finalisation after years of stalled negotiations. The pact — expected to be signed within weeks — could reshape market access, but farmers worry about increased imports and competition from Europe’s large-scale producers.

Negotiators from Australia and the EU recently made progress in talks in Brussels, leaving only a few unresolved issues before the agreement is sent to national leaders for approval. Australia’s National Farmers Federation (NFF) has stressed the importance of a “high-quality deal,” but voices from dairy, wine and other sectors say European products could flood local markets if safeguards aren’t strong enough.

Dairy farmers are particularly nervous, with the Australian Dairy Farmers president warning that the EU — the world’s largest cheese producer — may seek to export surplus products to Australia, potentially squeezing domestic processors and farms. Concerns extend to protected product names: the EU has pushed for restrictions on terms such as feta, mozzarella and parmesan, which Australian producers currently use, sparking fears over identity and market positioning.

While some producers see the deal as an opportunity to expand into high-value EU markets, others worry increased European imports of dairy and other food items could undermine local pricing and farm profitability. Negotiators are also negotiating terms on sensitive issues like geographical product names and quota allocations, with agriculture ministers affirming that any final deal must protect Australian farmers’ interests.

Source : Dairynews7x7 Feb 26t3rd 2026 Read full story here

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