“The #EU and #Australia have signed long-awaited #trade and #security deals as they seek *mutual support* to cope with pressure from #China and the #US. The trade agreement will boost the EU’s access to Australia’s #CriticalMinerals, while the #defence and #security pact will enable Australian companies to participate in the bloc’s €150bn #rearmament programme.”

“Australia meanwhile is seeking to reduce its reliance on China, its biggest trading partner, and has signed trade deals with the #UK, #India and the United Arab Emirates (#UAE) in the *past five years* to #diversify its #exports. It has previously said that the EU deal was “the missing piece of the puzzle”.”

#Trade / #RegionalSecurity / #Labor <https://archive.md/NPuZU> / <https://ft.com/content/4a71ddd6-bb5c-439c-9a10-ce3ad1d4377f> (paywall)