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The Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA) will enhance opportunities for Australian investment in the EU in sectors of commercial interest, including mining, manufacturing, and energy.
New opportunities for Australian investors
The A-EU FTA will provide unparalleled opportunities for Australian investors to access the EU market.
The EU will provide Australian investors non-discriminatory treatment in sectors of commercial interest, such as mining, manufacturing, energy, tourism and education.
The EU will treat Australian investors the same as EU investors, subject to certain conditions.
The EU's commitments to Australian investors are future proofed: if the EU provides more generous investment market access to other partners in the future, then this will be automatically extended to Australian investors.
Benefits of EU investment in Australia
The EU as a bloc has the largest stock of foreign direct investment abroad. The outcomes secured in the A-EU FTA will help increase investment into Australia.
The A-EU FTA's investment-related obligations will provide greater predictability for EU investors seeking to invest in Australia including in sectors such as mining, manufacturing, critical minerals and renewable energy.
Greater certainty for EU investors will add to the attractiveness of Australia as an investment destination, supporting economic growth and job creation.
Australia will raise its foreign investment screening thresholds for private EU investors, helping cement Australia as an investment destination of choice.
Future EU investment will help Australia reach its economic potential by providing capital to finance new industries, including in sectors critical to the Future Made in Australia agenda such as clean energy and critical minerals.
Investment protections
There is no investor-state dispute mechanism in the A-EU FTA, reflecting the confidence we share in each other's legal systems. Australia has retained the right to screen EU investments on national interest and national security grounds.