Navantia argues it can deliver the ships by 2030, helping the navy to avoid a capability gap because of delays with the $45 billion program. “What is important here is the will of both sides to the agreement has to be to find this common ground and reach an agreement.”Īs part of her visit, Ms Reyes Maroto met Defence Minister Richard Marles to advocate on behalf of Spanish shipbuilder Navantia’s bid to build three destroyers in Spain for the navy for $6 billion. to reach agreements in these areas that were stumbling blocks. “We have seen the Australian government and European Union have a shared interest. “We really think it is important to give a political impulse to these negotiations,” she said. Ms Reyes Maroto expressed confidence that the talks would overcome sticking points such as Europe’s insistence on protecting geographical indicators for food and the abolition of Australia’s luxury car tax, and Australia’s push to maximise agricultural quotas and tariff reductions. This is very good news that the negotiations will resume in October,” she said. “From the start we have supported this FTA. The diplomatic rift between Australia and France over the cancelled submarine project derailed the trade pact, but talks on the agreement would resume next month in Brussels, with negotiators to visit Spain on October 14, Ms Reyes Maroto said. She said the Albanese government’s adoption of higher climate change targets had been “very important” in the resumption of negotiations over a free trade agreement between Australia and the European Union. Visiting Canberra and Sydney this week, Maria Reyes Maroto Illera told The Australian Financial Review in an exclusive interview that Spain also wanted to deepen co-operation with Australia on renewable energy and infrastructure projects.ĭon Farrell meets with Spanish Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Maria Reyes Maroto Illera.

Spain’s trade minister has pushed the Albanese government to buy Spanish-built warships while also seeking to secure critical minerals from Australia as an alternative to China’s stranglehold.

How to sell ships in world of warships