Australia – European Union: Free trade agreement talks stalled

A massive trade deal with the European Union appears all but doomed after "endgame" negotiations between the two sides collapsed before they even began.

Trade Minister Don Farrell was due to hold talks with his EU counterpart in Osaka on Monday but told negotiators he was walking away from the deal — for the second time in three months — because the offer on the table is still not good enough.

Five years after talks began, Australian farmers say the existing offer is a "dud", arguing it barely improves market access for sugar, red meat and dairy and would, in fact, impose conditions or European-mandated restrictions on local farming practices.

The other major sticking point has been EU demands for Australia to give up naming rights to hundreds of products – including prosecco, parmesan and feta – to protect so-called "geographical indications".

More information here: Australian producers to keep prosecco, feta and parmesan as European Union trade deal doomed - ABC News