The trade minister of Australia has indicated his nation may emulate Canada by pursuing a closer relationship with the European Union, following a Wall Street Journal report that Ottawa is examining “associate member” status within the bloc.
“We are on the same page,” Australian trade minister Don Farrell told the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday. “We will take great interest in what Carney does.”
Farrell’s comments came after Canadian prime minister Mark Carney clarified on Sunday that his nation was seeking a “unique alliance” with the EU rather than full membership. The Australian minister did not elaborate on whether Australia is actively pursuing a deeper relationship or what form it could take.
Canada’s push for EU ties
According to the Journal, which cites two unnamed officials, Carney has held frequent talks with EU leaders, including French president Emmanuel Macron, on letting Canadians live and work without a visa in the EU.
The Journal reports that Canada and the EU are holding talks on letting Canadian goods, services and workers move freely across borders in four key sectors: artificial intelligence, energy, defence, and critical minerals. The discussions would treat the EU border as if it no longer existed for these fields. The negotiations also include joint projects involving physical connections between nations, including underwater cables, data centres, cloud storage, satellite networks, and energy transport facilities.
Australia’s own trade troubles
While Australia has held onto its security alliance and free trade agreement with the United States, it has also had to endure American duties on its goods. In response, the nation has turned toward other trading partners.
The representative from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to answer an inquiry.
The EU’s next set of arrangements could include anything Farrell is willing to consider, except for fibre-optic cables, which he ruled out because of the distances involved.
“The world is dividing into protectionists and free traders,” he said. “It’s indisputable that Australian prosperity of the last 50 years has all been about our engagement with the world.”
The EU deal Australia signed
After eight years of talks, Australia and the EU signed a free trade agreement in March, which removes tariffs on almost all goods and could ease EU access to Australian critical minerals.
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