THE Victorian Farmers Federation has labelled the position on EU free-trade negotiations as bad for Victorian agriculture.
“This is a dud deal, with Victorian farmers being asked to give up a lot whilst receiving little in return,” VFF president Emma Germano said.
Talks over the agreement at the G7 ministerial meeting in Japan on Sunday stalled, with Trade Minister Don Farrell saying he believed a deal was unlikely to be reached.
“As it stands, the trade agreement would have enormous impact on Victorian dairy farmers, who produce over 70 per cent of the nation’s dairy exports by value,” Ms Germano said.
“Agriculture must be front and centre of the government’s negotiations, and if (Senator) Farrell is unable to secure a sound deal for us, he should keep the signing pen in his pocket.”
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to make progress,” Senator Farrell said.
“Negotiations will continue and I am hopeful that, one day, we will sign a deal that benefits both Australia and our European friends.”
A spokesperson for the EU executive said good progress had been made with the negotiations in the weeks leading up to the Osaka meeting, but the Australian side retabled agricultural demands that did not reflect recent negotiations and the process between senior officials.
