Conclusion of the EU-Australia free trade agreement negotiations – Another positive step in the EU (wine) Trade strategy

Brussels, 24 March 2026 - The European Committee of Wine Companies (CEEV) welcomes the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Australia.

"At a time of geopolitical uncertainty and rising production and marketing costs, this agreement offers a concrete opportunity to diversify exports and strengthen the global competitiveness of EU wine companies," said Marzia Varvaglione, President of CEEV. "While we still need to examine the final text in detail, the outcome is already positive for the EU wine sector."

Australia is currently the 11th largest export market for EU wines, with exports exceeding €300 million in the last campaign. Sparkling wines account for around half of this trade, reflecting strong Australian demand for EU "bubbles."

The agreement will bring the immediate elimination of the 5% import tariffs on EU wines, the modernization of the bilateral wine agreement, which includes a simplified recognition of international winemaking practices and the enhanced protection of our Geographical indications.

"The protection of wine GIs was one of the most sensitive elements of the negotiation, with implications beyond Australia," said Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, Secretary General of CEEV. "The phase-out of the use of 'Prosecco' for Australian exports, together with clearer labelling rules to avoid consumer confusion when Australian producers use domestically the term Prosecco as a varietal name, is not a bad result considering the complexity of the discussions."

CEEV congratulates the European Commission for this important step and urged EU institutions to move quickly towards ratification to ensure the agreement enters into force without delay.

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