Negotiations began in 2018. Common ground was finally found between theEuropean Union (EU) and Australia on March 24, 2026, who concluded a free trade agreement. If it should make it easier for the EU to export its wines, spirits and dairy products towards Australia, he also plans toincrease imports of sheep and goat meat in EU.
The agreement will remove tariffs on 25,000 tonnes of viande ovine and goat from Australia, compared to 3,800 tonnes today. These meats must have been “nourries à l’herbe HAS”. This increase in the sheep and goat meat quota will be done gradually, over seven yearswith a third of the quota available upon entry into force of the agreement.
The traded volumes remain below 67,000 tonnes initially requested by Meat & Livestock Australia, representing the Australian red meat industry. Finally, the agricultural geographical indications of the EU will be protected, including Roquefort, Ossau-Iraty and Brocciu.
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An accumulation of agreements that displeases the unions
25,000 tonnes represent 4% of current EU sheep meat consumption. This new agreement comes at a time when a 50% reduction in customs duties on 3,500 tonnes of sheep meat a déjà été cédée à India end of January 2026, not counting 142,000 tonnes of sheep meat à droits nuls cédées à the New Zealand in 2025. accumulation d’accords widely criticized by agricultural unions and Interbev.
Read also: EU-India agreement: what about sheep meat?
The text of the agreement still needs to be finalized and presented to the Council and the European Parliament, before being adopted and entering into force. France should not oppose it.
