G’day Europe, G’day Poland: Polish-Australian Talks on Cooperation in Warsaw

On 22 September 2026, the business lunch “G’day Europe, G’day Poland: Navigating the EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement” was held at the PAIH Information Centre in Warsaw.

Participants discussed new opportunities for economic cooperation arising from the successful conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and Australia.

The opening remarks outlined the strategic and macroeconomic dimensions of the agreement. Maciej Srebro, Director of PAIH’s Foreign Expansion Office, emphasised that the removal of most tariff barriers and the simplification of trademark protection would open an unprecedented new chapter in the integration of the two markets, requiring companies to start planning at an early stage. Wojciech Wysocki, Deputy Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Poland, highlighted the prospect of eliminating nearly 99% of tariffs, which would directly reduce costs and enhance the competitiveness of businesses. He also pointed to Australia’s key role in diversifying supply chains for critical raw materials. H.E. Benjamin Hayes, Ambassador of Australia to Poland, the Czech Republic and Lithuania, noted that the agreement confirms a partnership based on trust and shared values. He stated that EU exports could increase by as much as one third over the next decade. He stressed that Australia, as an affluent market seeking advanced machinery and innovative technologies, represents a natural gateway for dynamic Polish companies to the wider Indo-Pacific region. He also noted that strengthening trade relations is fully aligned with the partnership in the areas of security and defence.

During the substantive part of the event, Bartłomiej Lewandowski from the Ministry of Development and Technology discussed the benefits arising from the agreement, highlighting the stable level of bilateral trade to date and the strategic importance of Australia’s deposits of nickel, lithium and cobalt for the EU’s energy transition and efforts to reduce dependence on China. The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring Dr Damien Stewart (Polish-Australian Chamber of Commerce), Anna Sylwia Pławińska (Austrade), and Szymon Włochowicz (Hicron), who focused on the practical aspects of international expansion. The panellists emphasised the importance of two-way investment flows, the support provided by PAIH and Austrade in mitigating the risks associated with entering the market, and the need to understand local cultural codes in business relationships.

A common conclusion of the meeting was a clear call for Polish companies to begin preparing actively and establishing partnerships now, even before the agreement is formally ratified.

The event was organised by PAIH in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission in Poland, the Embassy of Australia, the Polish-Australian Chamber of Commerce, and the Australian Embassy’s Trade and Investment Office (Austrade).

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