Europe deal fell over as EU was asking too much, says Australian minister — “The view of the government is that what the European Union is asking goes too far, particularly when it comes to the naming of products.”
by marketrent
Europe deal fell over as EU was asking too much, says Australian minister — “The view of the government is that what the European Union is asking goes too far, particularly when it comes to the naming of products.”
by marketrent
25 comments
As a European I rather keep the Strict naming of products since that is at least some assurance of quality. And that there is a usually a rather strict production method for these protected products.
Brussels had sent a team of about 10 negotiators and two top Commissioners to Osaka to finalise a trade deal five years in the making.
On Sunday, Australia’s top negotiator apparently backtracked from progress to date and retabled demands from the Australian farm lobby — whose representatives were also present in Osaka:^1
>Europeans were insisting on our producers dropping the use of terms that they consider their own such as feta and parmesan. In return they weren’t giving away better access for our red meat, dairy and sugar.
>As Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite put it on ABC:^2
>“The view of the government is that what the European Union is asking goes too far, particularly when it comes to the naming of products that are well known on the Australian market and the Australian consumers use on a daily basis and of course, ensuring that we’re getting better access and benefits for Australian farmers and the agricultural sector.
>“And that hasn’t been the result of those negotiations to date.”
>Thistlethwaite again: “It may be the case we shouldn’t simply sign a free trade agreement with any nation or group simply for the sake of signing a free trade agreement.
>“We have to defend Australian values and importantly, producers and employees in the Australian economy.”
^1 https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/europe-deal-fell-over-as-eu-was-asking-too-much-minister
^2 https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/transcripts/2023-10-30/television-interview-abc-afternoon-briefing
I think as well the French didn’t forget the submarine snub. Australia was never going to get an easy trade deal. They don’t admit that publicly though.
Well yeah, Captain Obvious, that’s the case 100% of the time when a negotiation collapses; one party thinks the other is asking too much.
So he is mad EU doesn’t want cheap australian copies of european well established brands.
Come on Australia…
In other words Australia goods are not strong enough to compete without the regional names from Europe. Says a lot about their products.
Cry babies… (Eats feta cheese).
Well the EU thinks the same about the Australian government. Normally you draw the lines around hard no’s at the beginning of negotiations, so if this deal really blew up on the finish line, I wonder who or what was responsible for that.
If you allow the Aussies to use terms like champagne, feta, parmesan, parma ham etc then where does it stop? No one wants knock offs of these and if you open the gates then within a year you’ll have the Chinese producing them and filling them with melamine or whatever and we, the consumers, will have no way to know.
This deal won’t happen. Rip Aussies.
How can that be, like what the actual fuck are they even thinking about calling that “asking too much”? Why should we let Aussie businessmen use european brands without the quality to back it up? Atleast China gives you a cheap but functional copy. Can’t say the same for them food products … If it can be called food at all.
These deals take years to hammer out and there is always grandstanding and breakdowns.
Fact is both sides want this so it will get done.
It’s a non story.
Brussels can be strong and hold out. They don’t need to bend over like Brexit Britain.
I wonder, isn’t a 400 million market a good opportunity for Australian products compared to a 20 million market for European products?
Good luck with China, Australia…
What a BS article.
I didn’t know there is Champagne region in Australia.
Well, maybe they thought EU would give in like UK did and offer a wildly one-sided deal.
What is Australia offering to the EU? Right, it is a very high income market but at the same time is very small with only 20 millions customers with very well established trade ties with its very competitive Asian neighbours. It will be very difficult for EU companies to make business over there.
Are they offering critical minerals at fixed prices long term contracts? I don’t think so, they will sell these mineral to the best bidder whether is the EU or China.
Are they offering privileged access to EU industrial goods and services over Asian neighbours ones? I don’t think so.
What the EU will get in exchange for fully opening our agrifood markets to Australian products? Very little I think.
I think the EU should focus on Mercosur instead.
Oh no. Anyway…
looks like they just straight up changed their mind and torpedoed it completely via a cheap cop-out
not losing sleep over that one
Miss me with that weak feta knockoffs
Yea I like knowing that my Mozzerela di Bufala actually came from Campania and is actually made from Buffalo milk from the region. I like knowing that my Jersey Royals are actually from Jersey.
Throwing a hissyfit because you cant just claim to be a specific product from somewhere specific with unique attributes is pathetic. (wholey understandable from their point of view, but still pathetic)
That means EU defended their rights and products….while our UK government sold our farmers just for the sake of having…a weak deal.
I don’t know of ANY Australian products we are missing. Nothing of value was lost. For us.
Look, if Aussie food is as good as European food, then why is the naming issue such a big deal?
Unless…
Yeah, this is just not something the EU is going to give any leeway on. It’s extremely important for most citizens because there’s a certain standard of expectation for food.
I do think that the concept of terroir, as the French would call it, is completely valid.
Whether it is wine, cheese, meat, the flavour will be influenced by the local soil, climate etc, meaning it’s not just a name. The region of origin is what makes something what it is.
A grape from a vine in Bordeaux will not make the same tasting wine when grown in Australia