Von der Leyen's Australia Trip: Trade & Security Pact

From Adelaide, this is your March 18th update.

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen is heading to Australia for a major

trip focused on signing a security pact and wrapping up a long delayed free trade deal.

She arrives on Monday and meets Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canberra on Tuesday

during her three-day visit.

This marks her first official trip there as president in their seventh face-to-face meeting.

She is bringing along EU Trade Commissioner Matos Sefkolvik, who has joined her for other

big trade signings like the one with India earlier this year.

The visit comes after an earlier plan for March got pushed back because of the war in

Ukraine.

Pass talks hit snags over how much Australian beef could enter Europe without tariffs, with

Australia seeking 30,000 tons duty-free and tough European standards for their own imports.

Australia has been looking at easing its luxury car tax, which adds a 33% levy on vehicles

worth more than $80,000, or $91,000 for fuel-efficient models.

Europe worries this tax disadvantages their car makers, as cheaper Chinese options flood

the market.

Prime Minister Albanese called it a key chance for the two sides, who he described as,

close partners advancing, peace, security, and shared economic growth.

Those expect progress on both the trade and security front soon.

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