Australia says trade pact would benefit EU in Indo-Pacific amid submarine deal

22/9/2021 13:02

        An Australian-EU trade deal would be mutually beneficial and allow EU members a greater presence in the Indo-Pacific, said Australia's trade minister, as Canberra tries to repair ties with Paris after the scrapping of a $40 billion submarine deal.
        
        Australia last week cancelled a deal with France's Naval Group to build a fleet of conventional submarines and will instead build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines with U.S. and British technology after striking a trilateral security partnership with those two countries.
        
        The cancellation has angered France, which accused both Australia and the United States of stabbing it in the back, and it recalled its ambassadors from both Canberra and Washington.
        
        In solidarity with France, EU lawmakers have publicly questioned whether a trade deal with Australia could be possible.
        
        Australia's Minister for Trade Dan Tehan on Wednesday urged the EU to progress ahead with a trade deal.