Anthony Albanese to meet with Donald Trump
Anthony Albanese has confirmed he will meet with Donald Trump to put forward Australia’s case on tariffs in a “discussion as two friends should”.
National
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Anthony Albanese has locked in a face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump where he intends to press Australia’s case on tariffs and defence in a “discussion as two friends should”.
Speaking in Seattle during a stop on his way to the G7 Summit in Canada, Mr Albanese revealed he had secured a meeting with Mr Trump that was scheduled to take place on Tuesday local time.
There were fears the US President would snub requests for meetings with other world leaders at the Group of Seven summit, and possibly skip the event altogether amid domestic upheaval of his immigration policy and the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.
“Obviously there are issues that the US president is dealing with at the moment, but I expect that we will be able to have a constructive engagement as well and I look forward to building on the very constructive phone conversations that we’ve had on the three occasions that we’ve had the opportunity to talk,” Mr Albanese said.
“So obviously I will raise tariffs, I will raise the importance as well of AUKUS and we will have a discussion as two friends should.”
Asked whether he would follow the UK’s strategy in an attempt to secure a trade deal with the US, Mr Albanese said Australia would play to its unique strengths, including its rich critical mineral resources.
Mr Trump had agreed to reduce tariffs on British steel and automotive exports in exchange for greater market access in the UK for American products.
“Australia is a major contributor in our region to security, and the relationship that we have with the United States is an important one,” he said.
“And one of the things that I will state privately as well as I state publicly, is that the United States has enjoyed a very long trade surplus with Australia…”.
Australia exported more than $23 billion in goods to the US in 2024, about four per cent of its total exports globally which were in excess of $500 billion.
Australia is currently subject to the global baseline of 10 per cent tariffs on all good exported to the US and tariffs as high as 50 per cent on steel and aluminium.
Mr Albanese was pessimistic when asked if there were was a scenario in which tariffs could drop below 10 per cent for Australia which has had a free-trade agreement with the US since 2005.
“The 10 per cent baseline has, of course, been applied across the entire line and what I won’t do is do what some have done in Australian politics, or formerly in Australian politics have done and make grand declarations prior to any meeting taking place,” he said.
“I will put forward Australia’s interests respectfully, because it is also in the interest of the United States for Australia to be treated appropriately.
“The discussions that I’ve previously had with President Trump were constructive, but those 10 per cent tariff supports have been the minimum that have been … applied right across the board.”
Mr Albanese will also look to sure up the future of the $370 billion AUKUS defence pact which is under review by the Pentagon, stressing the contributions already made through a $500 million cash deposit as well as personnel already training on submarines and in maintenance yards.
The Prime Minister made the comments in Seattle where he joined Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman to announce a $20 billion investment by the tech behemoth to expand its data centre infrastructure in Australia.
Mr Garman said there was extraordinary demand in Australia for its cloud computing and artificial intelligence which helped launch domestic business success stories including Atlassian and Canva.
The cash injection will expand the data centres already located in Melbourne and Sydney.
In addition, AWS will build three new solar farms in Queensland and Victoria to help power the energy-demanding infrastructure.
The business already invests in eight wind and solar farms in Australia and the 11 total once running are expected to generate about 1.4 million megawatt hours per year.
WONG WELCOMES TRUMP MEETING
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the government was “pleased” a meeting with Mr Trump had been scheduled, adding that AUKUS and tariffs would be on Mr Albanese’s agenda.
But Ms Wong refused to say whether Australia would bolster defence spending to ensure the AUKUS deal goes ahead.
She reiterated that under the tripartisan agreement, the US benefited from Australia’s $2bn investment in their industrial base, and boost to submarine maintenance capability.
“There are near-term and medium-term benefits to the US,” Ms Wong told Insiders.
“I’m sure the Prime Minister will be putting that if he has the opportunity to President Trump.
“In terms of defence spending - we have engaged in the largest increase in peacetime of Australia’s defence spending in history.
“Now, we will always do what is required to keep Australia safe as the Prime Minister has made very clear - we do that by assessing the capability that is required and ensuring that we acquire it. That’s what we’re doing.”
Opposition leader Sussan Ley welcomed confirmation Mr Albanese would meet with Mr Trump.
“It’s in the interest of every Australian this meeting is a success and we want the Prime Minister to do well,” Ms Ley wrote on X.
“It’s important the PM gains a reassurance on AUKUS and protects Australia from tariffs.”
Federal Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres said Mr Albanese’s meeting with Donald Trump was an “important opportunity”.
“He’s had a series of direct and very, very cordial discussions with the President of the United States. I’d expect ... that’s what will continue,” Mr Ayres told Sky News.
“It’ll be a useful discussion. It’ll be an opportunity for the Prime Minister to represent Australia’s interests in the way that he does in all of his international engagements - in the Australian national interest.”
Mr Ayres said the assassination of a US state politician and her husband in Minnesota was “absolutely horrifying”.
“It’s terrible this kind of political violence when it happens anywhere around the world,” he said.
“Australians are watching what is happening there with concern.
“It’s a reminder, isn’t it, about how important and precious our own democracy is.”
Originally published as Anthony Albanese to meet with Donald Trump
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