SMH · Matthew Knott · Tuesday 24 March 2026
The Albanese government has struck a trade deal opening access to Europe's 450 million consumers, but farmers say compromises on geographical indications for cheese and wine names gave away too much at the negotiating table.
Ten billion dollars in market access to half a billion consumers and the headline is about what you're allowed to call the cheddar. Australian farmers have spent a decade begging for a European deal, and now one arrives they're haggling over the label on the jar instead of counting what's in it. Trade negotiations are about leverage, not nomenclature — and a country that ships rocks to China for a living should know the difference between a brand and a commodity.