The Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, received the Australian Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing, Tim Ayres, at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Undersecretary Tripodi explained to Deputy Minister Ayres that Italy considers Australia a key partner and player in the Indo-Pacific region, one of the main champions of the rule of law, freedom of navigation, free trade, and sustainable infrastructure development. Together, they discussed the broad and dynamic bilateral relations between the two countries, favoured by the presence in Australia of over 1 million well-integrated Italian-descendants.
Undersecretary Tripodi then expressed her wish for a rapid conclusion of the negotiation for the EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which would also benefit Italian trade. She then mentioned how Italy considers it most important to achieve an ambitious outcome for geographical indications that guarantees full protection for almost all of them.
“We need to find acceptable solutions to the still open conflicts between specific geographical indications – a concern for Italy – and previous qualified uses in Australian territory, in particular with regard to Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Prosecco and Grappa, in order to ensure a tangible improvement of the current situation”, said the Undersecretary, adding that “All this is essential to protect Italy’s iconic agri-food products and to counter the phenomenon known as Italian sounding”.
“I am convinced that a balanced outcome of the negotiation for the Agreement will allow the creation of a solid and ambitious reference framework for a substantial development of Italian trade in goods and services, with great opportunities for Italian business communities” concluded Undersecretary Tripodi.
