Dutch behind EU trade deal with Australia

By AAP Newswire

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has praised the Netherlands' pro-trade agenda, saying both countries understand "we don't get rich selling stuff to ourselves".

Australia is negotiating a free trade agreement with the European Union, our second biggest trading partner behind China.

Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte said his country was Australia's second most important trading partner within the EU.

"We will look forward to an ambitious and sustainable and inclusive trade agreement," he told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

"One that will benefit all the parties, and you can count on our support to do whatever we can to make it happen on the European side."

Mr Morrison said the Dutch had been tremendous advocates for free trade based on global rules in an open trading environment.

"Both countries understand that we don't get rich selling stuff to ourselves, we know that we have to reach out," he said.

The prime minister last week decried "negative globalism" and said Australia would not take orders from an unaccountable internationalist bureaucracy over the will of its voters.

Standing alongside Mr Rutte, he said global institutions were important but rules needed to be modernised for today's economy.

Significant Australian exports to the Netherlands include coal, medical instruments, beef and oil seeds.

On the other side of the ledger, Dutch companies send veterinary products, pharmaceuticals and coffee to Australia.