Australia argues dropping name rights critical to trade deal with EU

Dropping name rights claims to products such as feta and prosecco would be a major concession from the EU, but a hopeful Albanese government has argued it’s critical to securing a free-trade agreement.

A lucrative trade deal with the European Union depends on Australia’s farmers being allowed to use names like “feta” and “prosecco” for their produce, as both sides come back to the table for talks.

Dropping name rights claims would be a major concession from the EU, but the Albanese government has argued it’s critical to securing a free-trade agreement between the two.

Trade Minister Don Farrell said a “lot of things have changed” since negotiations broke down in 2023 over several sticking points around agriculture, acknowledging the geographical indicators naming certain products were “hard issues”.

“The Europeans say, well look, you’re using all of our names,” he said.

“What I say to them is … after World War II, a lot of Europeans came to Australia. They brought their families, they brought their culture, more importantly, they brought their food and wine.”

A lucrative trade deal with the European Union depends on Australia’s farmers being allowed to use names like “feta” and “prosecco” for their produce. Picture: Andy Rogers

Labor is increasingly confident a new agreement can be reached with the EU as countries scramble to offset the impact of US President Donald Trump’s damaging and unpredictable tariffs.

Mr Farrell said he now believes, with “goodwill”, an agreement can be secured.

“The politics have changed in two years,” he told Sky News.

“I think both Australia and Europe now realise that there’s a priority and an imperative to get a free-trade agreement.”

Trade Minister Don Farrell. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

He said global uncertainty meant if there were countries which wanted to do trade, then it was worth it to “go that extra mile to get an agreement over the line”.

Mr Farrell will meet with his EU counterpart on Tuesday only days after Anthony Albanese met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Rome to further trade talks.

The Prime Minister said he and Ms von der Leyen spoke about the “importance of free and fair trade” and their hopes of advancing an agreement.

“We know that there were issues in the past over agriculture and we’re hoping that they can be overcome,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ursula von der Leyen of the European Union. Picture: Instagram

Mr Albanese said Australia’s objective was to expand “free and fair trade,” but reiterated he would not sign up to a bad deal.

“We have indicated in the past, though, that we won’t sign up to agreements that aren’t in Australia’s national interest,” he said.

Mr Albanese said he and the EU leader also discussed their “common values” in defence and security, including “standing up for Ukraine and its national sovereignty”.

Ms von der Leyen said she was “looking forward to a new era between Europe and Australia” amid “geopolitical tensions”.

“The good thing is Australia and Europe are reliable partners,” she said.

“We are predictable, we share the same values … so we can offer to each other stability and we’re very grateful for that.

“This is the reason also that we do not only see you as a trading partner, but we see you as a strategic partner, and we would very much like to broaden this strategic partnership.”

Originally published as Australia argues dropping name rights critical to trade deal with EU