Australia, EU FTA Talks Break Down

Australia and the EU were unable to finalize a free trade agreement, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said in an Oct. 30 statement after a meeting with EU trade negotiators during the Group of 7 summit in Osaka, Japan. Farrell said he came to Osaka "with the intention to finalise a free trade agreement with" the EU, but "unfortunately we have not been able to make progress." He added that FTA talks will continue and is "hopeful that one day we will sign a deal that benefits both Australia and our European friends." FTA talks have continued for over five years between the parties (see 2307110050).