EU’s von der Leyen to visit Australia for likely trade deal conclusion

BRUSSELS, March 18 (Reuters) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese next week, when the two sides are likely to conclude negotiations on a free trade agreement.

Both sides have signalled progress after previous talks between Australia and the EU collapsed in 2023, mainly over the size of meat import quotas into the European Union.

The European Commission, the EU executive body, said in a statement that von der Leyen’s visit from March 23 to 25 was intended to “strengthen EU ties with a trusted, like-minded partner in the strategically vital Indo-Pacific region.”

Australia said Albanese would meet von der Leyen, who will be accompanied by EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic, in Canberra on Tuesday on her first trip to the country as European Commission president.

Australia has been seeking greater quotas for lamb and beef exports to Europe. The EU has pushed for lower tariffs on manufactured goods, particularly cars, and improved access to Australia’s critical minerals to reduce reliance on China. The two sides launched negotiations in 2018.

Total goods trade between the EU and Australia was 47.2 billion euros ($57 billion) in 2025, with the EU having a surplus of 26.5 billion euros. For services, trade totalled 38.1 billion euros in 2023, with the EU also enjoying a surplus of 17.9 billion euros.

($1 = 0.8675 euros)

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Makini Brice and Timothy Heritage)