Australia augurs latest phase of Europe’s diversification from China
Add BT as a preferred source
CANBERRA is over 16,000 kilometres from Brussels, yet the Australian capital has been top of mind for many European Union decision-makers in recent months, in the context of Europe’s economic plans to diversify from China.
China has experienced rapid gross domestic product growth for decades, and has built a strong global foothold in raw materials, especially critical minerals that are powering the digital and green transition. The high dependence of Europe on China for these minerals worries policymakers in Brussels, and is one of the key drivers of the EU’s economic diversification agenda.
In this context, trade talks between Brussels and Canberra collapsed last year, in large part because of disagreements over agricultural issues. This stemmed from the EU’s rules on geographic indicators, which would block Australian producers from labelling products with European-centric names, such as “prosecco” or “feta”.
TRENDING NOW
CSE Global independent director quits after clashes with chairman Eugene Lai over board refresh
What’s wrong with Orchard Road? Experts weigh in on the street’s cachet and its future
‘I felt like dying’: Thai Singha beer scion speaks up after disclosure of alleged sexual abuse
Rare brutalist Singapore house opens to the public before changing hands
