Australian wine may land ahead of FTA

Australia’s special envoy Abbott sees early harvest trade deal sealed by year end or early next month

India and Australia are confident of sealing an early harvest trade deal by the year end or early next month, which could include some market access concessions for Australian wines, Canberra’s special envoy to India and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday.

Mr. Abbott, who met Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday, said a good trade deal with India would not only strengthen the Quad but also set the tone for more such pacts between Australia, India and other major trading nations.

Accusing China of ‘weaponising’ trade in recent years, Mr. Abbott, who was the Prime Minister when Australia signed a comprehensive free trade deal with China, said the Asian nation’s current trade tensions with many countries provide an opportunity for India to emerge as a reliable substitute in global supply chains.