Why Europe and UK?
Europe is accelerating strategic partnerships in key sectors including energy, defence, digital infrastructure and finance to enhance resilience, competitiveness and strategic autonomy.
This creates a significant window of opportunity for Queensland for collaboration on shared challenges and co-investment in future-focused industries.
Queensland’s expanding defence industry, advanced manufacturing expertise and innovation in aerospace technologies position it as a valuable partner in Europe’s efforts to strengthen regional security and technological integration.
Queensland’s exports to the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) exceeded A$7 billion in 2024, driven by strong demand for key products such as coal, manufactured goods, meat, ores and base metals, vegetables and pharmaceutical products.
In the same year, imports from the EU and UK into Queensland were valued at more than A$9.5 billion.
Meanwhile, foreign investment in Australia reached A$1.7 trillion, underscoring the depth of economic ties with Europe and the UK.
Long-standing trade ties with shared values
Queensland’s ties with Europe are long-standing, rooted in early 20th-century migration and shared industrial and geopolitical interests.
European communities have significantly shaped Queensland’s development.
These include German and Italian contributions to agriculture in the 19th century, to the cultural and economic influence of French, Greek, Dutch, Spanish and other European groups.
Queensland has been officially represented in the UK by the Agent-General for Queensland since 1860, initially focused on promoting migration and now driving economic growth through trade and investment.
The Queensland–UK connection was further enhanced by the establishment in 1966 of Queensland House, which now serves as Trade and Investment Queensland's London office and a work and event space for Queensland businesses.
Read the Queensland-Europe and United Kingdom Trade and Investment Strategy 2025-2028
As Europe and the UK navigate new global challenges, from energy security and defence resilience to advanced manufacturing and digital transformation, Queensland is uniquely positioned to be part of the solution.
The Queensland-Europe and UK Trade and Investment Strategy 2025-2028 outlines the state's plan to build on these strengths, elevate Queensland’s presence and forge new pathways for trade and investment.
Queensland's research capabilities, rich natural resources and trusted record of innovation give it a compelling advantage.
Queensland recognises that Europe and the UK are valuable partners in shaping the future economically, strategically and culturally.
The EU is the world’s third-largest economy, accounting for one-sixth of global Gross Domestic Product
Germany, France and the Netherlands are three of the biggest EU sources of Foreign Direct Investment in Australia.
The EU has the world’s largest trade network with 76 agreements
Future economic outlook for Europe and UK
Europe and the UK are undergoing a strategic industrial transformation, prioritising energy resilience, sovereign capability, advanced manufacturing, defence capabilities and secure supply chains.
This shift is driven by ambitious net-zero targets and regulatory initiatives such as the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act and Green Deal Industrial Plan.
With shared priorities and complementary strengths in resources, energy, science and research innovation, Queensland can support Europe and the UK’s long-term industrial strategies.
The accelerating momentum in digital and enabling technologies across Europe and the UK presents a significant opportunity for Queensland.
Rapidly advancing capabilities in quantum computing, compound semiconductors and other frontier technologies position Queensland as a compelling partner in global innovation.
Momentum in the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations promises improved market access, increased product diversity and streamlined regulations.
Queensland’s collaborations with French universities and industry in health research provide a strong foundation for future partnerships in biotech, healthtech and clinical innovation.
Key markets and trade agreements
Queensland and the UK share a long-standing and multifaceted economic partnership, built on common institutions, strong people-to-people connections and shared priorities in defence, security, new technologies, services and resources sectors.
Queensland exports to UK 2024: Total A$820m (Source: QGSO).
Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement
The A-UKFTA is a bilateral FTA which entered into force on 3 May 2023 and removes tariffs on over 99% of Australian exports to the UK and enhances professional mobility between nations.
This comprehensive bilateral FTA promotes trade, professional mobility and deepens economic integration between Australia and the UK.
The Australia–UK FTA has removed tariffs on 99% of Australian goods entering the UK, creating significant new opportunities for Queensland’s food, beverage and agricultural industries.
This improved market access positions Queensland producers to expand exports of high-quality, trusted products to one of the world’s most dynamic consumer markets.
AUKUS
AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US to enhance defence ties and jointly develop advanced defence technologies to promote Indo-Pacific stability.
AUKUS was jointly announced on 15 September 2021 by Australian, UK and US leaders.
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
The CPTPP is a Free Trade Agreement covering countries representing approximately 14% of global GDP.
The CPTPP entered into force on 30 December 2018 for Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore. Vietnam followed on 14 January 2019, with Peru, Malaysia, Chile and Brunei joining progressively through to July 2023.
In 2023, the UK signed its accession protocol, becoming the first non-Pacific nation to join, pending ratification.
UK-Australia Space Bridge
The Space Bridge is a collaborative arrangement between Australia and the UK to grow each nations’ space sectors.
The UK-Australia Space Bridge arrangement was enacted in February 2021.
This arrangement boosts export and investment opportunities and research and development (R&D) collaborations between nations.
Germany and Queensland share robust economic and trade ties, driven by Germany’s demand for Queensland coal, manufactured goods and pharmaceuticals.
This relationship is further strengthened by shared interests in critical minerals, biotechnology, and innovation.
Queensland exports to Germany 2024: A$478.25m (Source: QGSO).
Berlin-Queensland Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Area of Health
The 2018 Joint Declaration of Intent (DoI) between the Land of Berlin and State of Queensland strengthens the cooperation between the two partners in health and medical research and in delivering better health outcomes and enhanced economic and commercial opportunities arising from health and medical innovation.
Bavaria-Queensland Declaration of Intent
The 2023 DoI signed between the German state of Bavaria and Queensland establishes partnerships and cooperation across clean energy, cleantech, emissions reduction technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum, life sciences, medical and bioeconomy, aerospace and additive manufacturing.
Joint project agreements under the DoI are driving research and innovation.
Hessen-Queensland Memoranda of Understanding
Since 2004, several Memoranda of Understanding have promoted student exchanges and joint
research partnerships between 14 Hessen and nine Queensland universities.
A flagship research partnership between Queensland and a German institution located in Hessen is the A$15 million International Research Training Group (IRTG) funded by the German Research Foundation in association with the University of Queensland and involving Justus Liebig University in Hessen, Germany.
Announced in December 2022, key research collaboration areas for this partnership are crop genetic selection and predictive breeding, gene editing and improving stress tolerance.
Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Australia and Germany
Signed in 2021, the Enhanced Strategic Partnership establishes a foundation for strategic cooperation in the Indo Pacific, and stronger economic cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, low emissions technology and the supply of critical minerals.Queensland and France maintain a broad and strategically aligned partnership across key sectors such as aerospace, energy and defence.
This relationship is further strengthened by shared interests in the Indo-Pacific and the unique connection between Brisbane and Paris as Olympic host cities.
Queensland exports to France 2024: A$842.3m (Source: QGSO).
Australia-France Roadmap–A New Agenda for Bilateral Cooperation
The Roadmap, signed in 2023, establishes a new and ambitious chapter in the Australia-France bilateral relationship focused on three pillars:
- defence and security
- resilience and climate action
- education and culture.
The three pillars aim to advance national and international interests with a key focus on the South Pacific.
Australia-France Bilateral Agreement for Cooperation on Critical Minerals Supply Chains
This agreement, signed in 2023, establishes a framework for Australia and France to work
together on a joint study looking at:
- supporting secure bilateral critical minerals supply chains
- identifying specific opportunities for battery minerals and rare earth elements.
Strategic priorities
Queensland’s engagement with Europe and the UK over the next three years will be guided by five strategic priorities, reflecting the state’s core strengths and aligning with shared strategic interests:
- Energy and resources: Progress investment interest into commercial collaborations and outcomes.
- Defence and aerospace: Drive strategic partnership opportunities to accelerate industry development.
- Digital and enabling technologies: Boost Queensland’s innovation in quantum, Software as a Service (SaaS) and advanced technologies.
- Infrastructure: Grow participation and investment in Queensland’s major infrastructure.
- Research and innovation: Pursue new research partnerships to support innovation and commercial outcomes.
A quantum technology laboratory at the University of Queensland.
Opportunities and challenges
- Europe’s economic, energy and national security needs in an uncertain world.
- High-trust, rules-based markets are aligned with Queensland’s values.
- Strong demand for critical minerals, renewable energy inputs, and decarbonisation technology.
- Favourable market access through FTAs.
- High demand for trusted partners in defence, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
- Investment driving opportunities in research collaboration and commercialisation.
- Europe’s leadership in digital regulation creates new opportunities for Queensland’s innovation sector.
- Post-Brexit repositioning and renewed Australia-UK bilateral momentum.
- Tariff and non-tariff barriers from other markets could create openings for Queensland exports.
- Queensland as an investment gateway into Asia-Pacific.
- The UK as a ‘bridge’ into Europe for Queensland companies.
- Ongoing geopolitical risks and supply chain disruptions.
- Delays in Australia-EU FTA negotiations constraining new opportunities in agriculture.
- Compliance with stringent European regulatory standards.
- Slow economic growth and soft consumer confidence in some markets.
- Strong competition from European and global suppliers, particularly in high-value sectors.
Meet Ross Buchanan
Agent - General for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner – Europe
Ross Buchanan was appointed as Agent-General in July 2024.
Prior to his appointment, he was Global Investment Commissioner from August 2019 where he led Queensland’s International Investment Attraction Unit.
Prior to taking up that role, he was Executive Director of the Economic Policy team in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
Ross has held senior executive roles in the Queensland Government for almost 20 years, working on trade, industry and investment projects.
Contact
Trade and Investment Queensland Office London
Queensland House
392 Strand
London WC2R 0LT, UK
Tel: +44 20 7420 8761
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