Finance
EU Commission Head Von Der Leyen to Visit Australia as Trade Deal Nears
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 18, 2026
Quick Summary
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia from March 23–25 to advance a long-stalled trade pact with Prime Minister Albanese, focusing on agriculture quotas, critical minerals and strategic Indo‑Pacific ties.
EU's von der Leyen to visit Australia for likely trade deal conclusion
Key Developments in EU-Australia Trade Negotiations
Upcoming Visit and Expected Agreement
BRUSSELS, March 18 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese next week, when the two sides are likely to conclude negotiations on a free trade agreement.
Background of Trade Talks
Both sides have signalled progress after previous talks between Australia and the EU collapsed in 2023, mainly over the size of meat import quotas into the European Union.
Objectives of the Visit
The European Commission, the EU executive body, said in a statement that von der Leyen's visit from March 23 to 25 was intended to "strengthen EU ties with a trusted, like-minded partner in the strategically vital Indo-Pacific region."
Negotiation Points and Economic Interests
Australia's Export Goals
Australia said Albanese would meet von der Leyen, who will be accompanied by EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic, in Canberra on Tuesday on her first trip to the country as European Commission president.
Australia has been seeking greater quotas for lamb and beef exports to Europe. The EU has pushed for lower tariffs on manufactured goods, particularly cars, and improved access to Australia's critical minerals to reduce reliance on China. The two sides launched negotiations in 2018.
Trade Figures and Economic Impact
Total goods trade between the EU and Australia was 47.2 billion euros ($57 billion) in 2025, with the EU having a surplus of 26.5 billion euros. For services, trade totalled 38.1 billion euros in 2023, with the EU also enjoying a surplus of 17.9 billion euros.
Exchange Rate and Reporting Credits
($1 = 0.8675 euros)
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Makini Brice and Timothy Heritage)
Key Takeaways
- •Von der Leyen’s visit marks renewed momentum in Australia–EU trade talks after the 2023 collapse over beef and lamb quotas (euronews.com)
- •Talks aim to balance Australia’s demand for expanded access for lamb, beef exports with the EU’s interest in critical minerals and lower tariffs on manufactured goods (euperspectives.eu)
- •The trip aligns with wider EU strategic outreach in the Indo‑Pacific, following moves such as provisional Mercosur implementation and a pending security‑defence partnership (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about EU Commission head Von der Leyen to visit Australia as trade deal nears
1When will EU Commission President von der Leyen visit Australia?
Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia from March 23 to March 25.
2Who will von der Leyen meet during her Australia visit?
She will meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
3What are the main issues in the Australia-EU trade negotiations?
Key issues include agricultural export quotas and access to critical minerals and manufactured goods.
4Why did previous EU-Australia trade talks collapse?
Talks failed in 2023 due to disagreements over agricultural product access.
5What is the goal of von der Leyen's visit to Australia?
To strengthen EU ties with Australia and advance trade negotiations.
