EU free trade deal: Don Farrell and EU trade boss strike up bromance as deal is clinched

When Ursula von der Leyen finally set eyes upon Don Farrell, Australia’s Trade Minister, he wasn’t exactly feeling the love.

“The President, when I greeted her, said ‘ah, you’re Don Farrell, she said’ as if to say maybe I’ve been the person who has been the impediment to getting the agreement,” the South Australian Senator recalled the European Commission President saying as they met at Admiralty House on Monday.

The President, who is known for her warmth, in person, may have been justified for coming across a little cool.

In 2023, Senator Farrell walked out of talks in Japan at the final hurdle, complaining that Australian farmers would not get enough beef.

“Well, I didn’t exactly walk out but that could be an interpretation; we just didn’t reach agreement at that time,” Mr Farrell countered, during an exclusive joint interview with his EU counterpart Maroš Šefčovič on Monday night.

Commissioner Šefčovič chuckled as Mr Farrell protested – perhaps a little too much. The pair granted The Nightly their only joint interview since striking the EU-Australia trade deal, an FTA that has eluded several governments, and as President von der Leyen told the joint sessions of Parliament on Tuesday: “(It) was a trade deal many thought we might never land.”

When Mr Farrell staged his protest and collapsed the talks, walking out on his former counterpart, Valdis Dombrovkis, it was a different time in world politics.

Tariff-loving Donald Trump was still awaiting political resurrection, the Albanese government then held a narrow majority and had reason to fear a backlash from farmers if it accepted less than they were asking.

And President Von der Leyen was nearing re-election herself.

Personal relationships matter,

Fast forward, and much has changed. Von der Leyen and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are two protected species on the world stage, having both avoided the post-pandemic anti-incumbency curse and been re-elected.

And they have put their mandates to work.

Trump’s antics, including roiling allies with his tariffs and willingness to threaten them to achieve any outcome he desires, including his desired annexation of Greenland, gave both sides greater political room to manoeuvre.

The most obvious concession is the 30,000 tonnes of meat over a decade that the EU will allow into Europe duty-free. Farmers wanted 50,000. But with the Coalition facing potential political extinction, Labor has found the strength in its 94 seats to accept what it previously would not.

Indeed, there is a direct line from Trump’s effect on the 2025 election result to the deal signed with the EU.

Don’t forget it was on his Liberation Day, at the start of last year’s Federal election campaign, when Australia picked up the phone and dialled Europe, and Brussels, which has been the number one target of the Trump Administration both on trade, security and internal politics, was receptive.

“Personal relationships matter,” President von der Leyen told reporters at Parliament House standing alongside the Prime Minister.

“And indeed the two of us decided, I think it was one and a half years ago, that it cannot be that we cannot bring this free trade agreement that is so close to being finished over the finish line.

But she conceded that it had been “hard yakka.”

“It needed a political push, but it also needed the skilful steer of our skilful negotiators here to bring it over the finish line,” the president said.

Senator Farrell concurred. “It hasn’t been easy,” he agreed.

But he instantly warmed to Mr Šefčovič after their first meeting in Europe.

Mr Šefčovič had been recommended to him by the Irish, who held him high regard for having brokered a breakthrough to the UK and EU’s long-running Brexit divorce agreement.

“This bloke next to me now is the toughest negotiator I’ve ever met in my life, but he is fair. Can I say that? He’s a fair man,” Mr Farrell, said unprompted, during the joint interview.

Mr Šefčovič said it was mutual and that Mr Farrell’s toughness led to more rounds of talks than expected, but that enabled them to strike up a friendship.

“He’s an extremely nice person despite being a very tough negotiator. We really (respect) each other and it was a real pleasure to work with him and his very, very professional team,” he said.

“We’ll certainly be friends (after this),” Mr Farrell added.

The pair celebrated at one of Senator Farrell’s favourite Canberra haunts, Molto, to feast and toast their success.

The EU Commissioner had veal, and Mr Farrell had linguine. And they washed it down with a bottle of Senator Farrell’s own wine. The 2019 cabernet was released for last year’s wedding of his daughter Emily to her partner Lawrence Ben, who was just elected an MP in South Australia on the weekend.

Mr Šefčovič came bearing a European toast of congratulations — French champagne.

Both said that it was remarkable that in a world of protectionism, turbulence and tariffs, Australia and the EU had finally got the deal done.