Australia upbeat on trade deal with EU by end of next year

LONDON. Australian trade minister Dan Tehan said yesterday he expected to finalise a free trade agreement with the European Union by the end of next year, despite the EU’s anger over Canberra’s cancellation of a submarine contract with France.

Brussels postponed the latest round of talks, which were due to start on Oct. 12, until November in solidarity with France after Australia scrapped the deal that Paris considered the cornerstone of its Indo-Pacific policy. Tehan, in Italy for a meeting of the Group of 20 developed countries, told Reuters: “I suggest it’s likely the end-game will take some time and we’ll be looking towards the end of next year to conclude negotiations.”