Australia to resume free trade talks with EU

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Australia to resume free trade talks with EU

After getting a commitment from the President of the European Commission, Anthony Albanese says free trade negotiations with the European Union will resume in the coming months.

The negotiations have been stalled for almost a year, with Anthony Albanese blaming a diplomatic fallout with the French Government and concerns about his predecessor's position on climate change.

Albanese said that Ursula von der Leyen expressed a desire to restart negotiations during a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit, with discussion possibly before October.

The real progress between now and March means holding several meetings and identifying what issues need to be resolved, according to Albanese after the meeting.

Australia wants to diversify trade relationships.

Albanese said a free trade agreement would allow more European businesses to be based in Australia and allow more Australian produce to be exported.

Europe is Australia's second largest trading partner, with a market of 450 million people and a GDP of around $20 trillion. At the moment, there are various barriers to trade here in Europe and we need to make sure that we engage with more trade to the benefit of both Europe and Australia, according to Albanese.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who called Scott Morrison a liar after he cancelled a US $90 billion submarine contract, had a discussion with Mr Albanese in Madrid on Tuesday night.

I had a very constructive discussion. I very much look forward to my visit to Paris and I thank President Macron for his welcome, Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese was also invited to attend the NATO summit, along with the leaders of Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

The meeting in Madrid has been dominated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with leaders eager to describe President Vladimir Putin's actions as a strategic misstep that has unified democratic nations.

The inclusion of Asia-Pacific nations has been described by some analysts as a counterweight to China's growing influence in the region.

The importance of the Indo-Pacific to global peace and security is evidenced by our collective presence here in Madrid at the invitation of NATO, said Albanese, who spoke to the meeting.

All of us are critical to NATO, Europe and the United States having stronger and more sustained engagement in our region.