The flags of the European Union and Australia on a table during a bilateral meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. The two sides also signed a security and defence partnership to facilitate better cooperation on crisis management and security challenges. Australia was pushing the EU to raise the amount of beef that can enter the bloc under preferential terms. “Australia is blessed with huge natural wealth and they have possession of almost all critical minerals we need,” Sefcovic said. The minerals deal would also reduce dependency on China, which she framed as both an economic and security concern, criticising its recent “weaponisation” of supply chains.

Source: The Irish Times March 24, 2026 18:56 UTC