Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell has threatened the European Union (EU) and said he would not sign the trade deal unless the bloc’s common market was opened up to Canberra.

According to the Financial Times, Farrell spoke about the trade deal with Europe before meeting the EU delegation in Brussels.

Stating that they extended an “olive branch” to the Beijing administration to resolve their disagreements on trade issues and thus relations began to improve, Farrell emphasized that the EU is only one of Australia’s trading partners and that they will not sign the trade deal unless it further opens up the block market for Australian agricultural products.

CONDITION OF THE AGREEMENT PROVIDED

Farrell said they could sign the deal with the EU if it takes into account the requirements “not to put Australian farmers in competition with other suppliers.”

Noting that they will be a superpower based on renewable energy, Farrell said: “The Europeans have to go out on the field and play with the ball. Do you want to be a part of the future or do you want to bury your head in the ground and remain a part of the past? he posed the question.

“We want to make sure they (EU) are part of this growth, but they need to stop the constant blinking,” Farrell said, adding that the Europeans just “OMG! We have problems with French farmers and Italian winemakers,” he said, adding that they are dealing with their own internal problems.

“They have to think big,” Farrell said. This is an opportunity for them right now. “Right now our dance partners are not lacking and we Europeans have to make a decision,” he warned.

‘DEALING WITH THE EU IS NOT VERY IMPORTANT’

Expressing hope that the deal will go through, Farrell said Canberra will deepen its latest trade deal with India. Referring to the developing Indo-Pacific economic area under US leadership and the UK’s Pan-Pacific trade bloc, which also includes Australia, Farrell stressed that the EU deal is not very important to them.

Farrell explained that its relations with China have heated up during the Labor Party government that came to power last year, and the volume of bilateral foreign trade has reached a record level of more than 200 billion dollars.

Noting that China lifted Australia’s blockade on some citrus and stone fruits this week, Farrell said they are also working to ensure Australian crayfish exporters have access to China.

Farrell added that they achieved these achievements without compromising security or national interests. (AA)