EU signs trade deal with Australia as it looks for new partners amid tension with US

The European Union and Australia finalized a free-trade agreement on March 24, marking the bloc's effort to diversify trading partnerships amid strained relations with the United States. The deal includes provisions for increased defense cooperation and EU access to Australian rare-earth minerals, resources critical for manufacturing and technology sectors. The agreement reflects Brussels' broader strategy to reduce economic dependence on any single trading partner during a period of global trade uncertainty. EU farmers have opposed the deal, citing concerns that Australian agricultural imports could undercut their domestic markets. The trade pact joins other recent EU agreements aimed at building alternative economic relationships beyond traditional transatlantic ties.