EU trade talks drag
Australia and the European Union have hit a roadblock in their five-year-long negotiations for a free trade agreement.
Despite efforts to break the deadlock, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell's visit to Brussels did not result in a resolution on the near-$100 billion deal.
The two sides will reconvene next month in another attempt to reach a compromise.
Australia is seeking greater trade access for key exports such as beef, lamb, sugar, cheese, and rice to the EU market of nearly 250 million people.
However, the EU has raised concerns over Australian producers using names like prosecco, mozzarella, feta, and parmesan, limiting their use to products originating from specific regions.
Australia argues that since Europeans have immigrated to the country, they should be allowed to continue using these names as part of their cultural heritage.
Senator Farrell has expressed disappointment over the failure to reach an agreement but says Australia will not accept any deal that fails to provide meaningful agricultural access to European markets.
The National Farmers Federation (NFF) has expressed support for the Australian government's decision to continue working on the deal.
NFF CEO Tony Mahar commended Senator Farrell and the negotiating team for rejecting a sub-standard deal and expressed hope that both sides could reach an agreement that benefits Australian farmers.
Despite the setback, Australian officials - including Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Nationals leader David Littleproud - remain optimistic about securing a favourable deal.