CANBERRA (Reuters) – 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. 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. Morrison is in the United States to attend the quadrilateral security dialogue, made up of India, Japan, the United States and Australia – which convenes later this week.

Source: MetroXpress September 22, 2021 04:41 UTC