‘Fanatics’ leading Libs against EU trade deal

Australia's trade minister faces opposition from within his own party over a proposed free trade deal with the EU.

The full report

A senior minister has called on Trade Minister Angus Taylor to take a 'strong stand' against 'fanatics' in The Nationals who are trying to block a $10bn-a-year free trade deal with the EU.

The Nationals, led by Senator Matt Canavan, plan to try to block the deal when it arrives in parliament early next year, citing concerns that it fails farmers and could leave Australia open to sanctions if it fails to hit climate targets under the 2016 Paris Agreement.

However, most sectors and business groups have welcomed the agreement, while Trade Minister Don Farrell has dismissed the climate concerns as a 'straw man' argument.

Fellow cabinet minister Tim Ayres said that the free trade agreement is a test of the Opposition Leader's 'economic credibility' and that Australia and the EU finalised terms in March.

Senator Ayres questioned whether the 50 Liberals in parliament would be led by the Nationals' opposition to the deal, or whether they would vote for 'mainstream economic credibility, for free trade, for market access for 98 per cent of Australian goods entering Europe without a tariff'.

Opposition frontbencher Sarah Henderson insisted that the Coalition wants 'better trade with the EU, but it cannot be a one-sided agreement', and expressed concerns about proposals related to beef and dairy.