EU and Australia Seal Free Trade Agreement With New Defense Partnership

European Commission President von der Leyen and Australian PM Albanese signed a free trade agreement eliminating 98% of EU duties on Australian goods after nearly eight years of negotiations. The deal includes a tenfold increase in tariff-free Australian beef exports to 30,600 tonnes and new defense cooperation arrangements. Australia will begin negotiations to become a Horizon Europe research associate. The agreement is part of Brussels' accelerating strategy to diversify trade partnerships and lock in strategic allies amid rising US tariff threats and global instability.