Australia-EU trade talks delayed amid submarine deal fallout

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — A round of free trade talks between the European Union and Australia has been postponed by one following a dispute over the Australian government’s decision to cancel a multibillion-euro French submarine deal. The EU commission spokesperson in charge of trade said Friday that the delay doesn’t mean “the end of these negotiations.” The EU launched negotiations for a trade agreement with Australia in 2018. The 12th round of talks was scheduled to take place this month. Australia signed a 2016 deal with a company majority-owned by the French state for 12 diesel-electric submarines. The government canceled the deal last month as part of an alliance with the United States and Britain.