Anthony Albanese to spruik free and fair trade to business leaders ahead of hopeful G7 Donald Trump talk
Anthony Albanese will push the benefits of free and fair trade when he speaks to US-based business leaders in Seattle ahead of a highly-anticipated but yet-to-be confirmed meeting with Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister arrived in Seattle in the early hours of Saturday morning local time, where he will tour the Amazon headquarters and spruik the tech giant's billions-dollars commitment to expand Australia's data centre network.
Mr Albanese is also scheduled to deliver a speech to business leaders at the Technology and Innovation Business Reception on Saturday evening, where he's expected to say that free and fair trade has 'transformed the economies of our region'.
The event will be attended by senior representatives from BHP Ventures, quantum computing leader Diraq, Trellis Health, Airwallex and Anthropic, and promote the success and innovation behind the 1100+ Australian companies which have a physical presence in the US.
Australia's US Ambassador Kevin Rudd, who was seen in Canberra on Thursday before Mr Albanese departed on his six-day international trip, is also expected to give a short speech.
'Free and fair trade has transformed the economies of our region. And it underpins economic partnership between our two nations, including through the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, signed twenty years ago,' Mr Albanese is expected to say.
'Today, the United States is Australia's largest foreign investment destination and our largest two-way investment partner. Our task is to build on this strength – and diversify beyond it.
'To seek out new sources for growth and investment, particularly in the sectors you represent.'
The pointed remarks come as Mr Albanese is facing increased pressure to secure a meeting with Mr Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
The pivotal meeting, which will be Mr Albanese's first since Mr Trump was re-elected in November last year, will likely cover whether Australia can broker a tariff exemption, Australia's defence spending which remains short of the 3.5 per cent called on by the US, and more clarity on the future of the AUKUS security defence pact.
While AUKUS sceptic and secretary for defence policy Elbridge Colby has been tasked with leading the Pentagon's review into the security pact, Mr Albanese has said the 'very confident' AUKUS remained in the 'interests of all three of our nations, and that it will play an important role in peace, security and stability around the world'.
Following the brief US stopover, Mr Albanese will head north to Calgary in Canada, before travelling to Kananskis.
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