EU’s Simson Says FTA With Australia Would Help Minerals Push
- Trade talks stalled in 2023 on disagreement over farm products
- Energy commissioner urges Australia to return to negotiations
Lithium ore at a mine in Australia.
Photographer: Carla Gottgens/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
A free-trade agreement between Australia and the European Union would encourage closer ties on critical minerals at a crucial time for the energy transition, Europe’s Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said during a visit to Australia.
Talks between the two sides on a trade pact collapsed last year with Canberra unhappy over access to EU markets for its farm goods. They are also seeking cooperation on critical materials — like lithium, copper and nickel — as Western nations push back against Chinese dominance of supply chains.