On 18 June 2018, Cecilia Malmström, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, together with Malcolm Turnbull, Australian Prime Minister, and Steven Ciobo, Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, officially launched negotiations for a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement between the EU and Australia, in the Australian capital of Canberra.The negotiations will aim at removing barriers to trade in goods and services, as well as developing trade rules to make trade easier and more sustainable. The opening of talks with Australia is part of the EU agenda for open and fair trade.The EU is already Australia's second biggest trade partner. Bilateral trade in goods between the EU and Australia has risen steadily in recent years, reaching almost €48 billion in 2017. The sectors which make up the bulk of EU exports to Australia are transport equipment, machinery and appliances, chemicals, food, and services. Bilateral trade in services is around €28 billion.