CANBERRA: The European Union and Australia struck a long-awaited free-trade deal on Tuesday (Mar 24), while also agreeing to boost defence cooperation and access to crucial rare-earth minerals in the face of global uncertainty over trade. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen's visit to Australia comes as the 27-nation bloc and the import-reliant nation navigate renewed energy vulnerability sparked by the war in the Middle East. The accord is the latest agreed by Brussels in a push to diversify trade