Trade agreements

The Australian Government has introduced the Trade and Investment Agreements (Consultation) Bill 2026. The Bill establishes a framework for the negotiation, consultation, and review of Australia’s free trade agreements.

In line with the European Commission’s practice for its Free Trade Agreements, the provisional text of the Australia-EU FTA has been published following the conclusion of negotiations on 24 March 2026.

Australia will protect all 396 of the EU’s requested GIs, most of which are not commercially valuable to Australian producers. Certain terms identified as commercially valuable to Australian producers will be protected with negotiated flexibilities as outlined below.

Highlights of the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement

The Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA) unlocks new opportunities for Australian businesses in a massive market with a GDP of about $30 trillion and around 450 million high-income consumers.

Under the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA), Australia has agreed to protect a list of EU geographical indications (GIs) (see the list of EU GIs). The list consists of 396 EU GIs – including 231 spirits and 165 agricultural goods (mostly dairy and smallgoods).

Under the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA), Australia will protect 231 EU spirit geographical indications (GIs). Many of these EU GI terms are not used by Australian producers in Australia. This means protecting these EU GIs will have minimal impact on Australian industry.

Under the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA), Australia will protect 34 EU meat and smallgoods geographical indications (GIs).

In addition to outcomes under the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA), Australia also negotiated updates to the Wine Agreement, including protection of additional wine geographical indications (GIs), such as Prosecco, with the EU.