This week, I will travel to France to lead Australia’s delegation to the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting and meet with counterparts to advance Australia’s trade interests and advocate for the rules-based trading system.
The OECD Ministerial Council Meeting is an opportunity to discuss cooperation on open markets, the digital economy, and the building of sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
On the sidelines of this meeting, Australia will host the annual informal gathering of World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministers. The meeting will provide an opportunity to build momentum for WTO reform and reinforce the importance of an open, rules-based global trading system.
Australia will also host a meeting of Cairns Group Ministers to discuss how we can advance agricultural reform that brings us closer to a level playing field in agricultural trade.
I look forward to meeting with a number of my counterparts, including EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič.
The EU is the second-largest economy in the world, with a GDP of approximately AUD31 trillion in 2025. Concluding a free trade agreement with the EU is a priority, but we have been clear that a deal needs to deliver meaningful market access outcomes, including for Australian agriculture.