Australia is looking for certainty from its partners as the prime minister’s impending discussion with Donald Trump looms large.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will continue meeting with world leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit when he holds talks with the newly-elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation secretary general Mark Rutte in Canada on Monday local time (Tuesday AEST).
Though Australia is not a member of the G7, Mr Albanese was invited to the event in Kananaskis by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
He has taken the opportunity to build rapport with other nations as the US president’s tariffs cast a shadow over the global trade.
“What’s clear is that in (an) uncertain world, what people are looking for is certainty in relationships, trusted relationships,” Mr Albanese told reporters.
Defence and security will be top of mind in talks with Mr Lee, with the two leaders expected to discuss a shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region.
Mr Albanese will also hold his first face-to-face meeting with the secretary general of NATO, a political and military alliance of European and North American nations.
He and Mr Rutte will likely discuss Australia’s support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
“Australia always has a case for maximising our defence and security relationships in what is an uncertain world” Mr Albanese said.
But the centrepiece of Mr Albanese’s trip is his much-anticipated talk with the US president on Tuesday.
Their first face-to-face meeting presents a crucial opportunity for the prime minister negotiate an exemption from Mr Trump’s controversial tariffs.
Australia faces 50 per cent tariffs on aluminium and steel products sent to the US, while other goods have been hit with a baseline 10 per cent levy.
Tariffs are generally passed on by importers to the citizens of the country imposing the measures, but can reduce demand for the exporting country’s products.
Mr Albanese has argued the tariffs are an “economic act of self-harm” and his government is considering using US beef imports and critical minerals as potential bargaining chips.
The prime minister is not the only world leader hoping to leave the summit with a tariff exemption, with Mr Carney and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba lining up to speak with the US president.
Mr Albanese has also discussed trade with other world leaders, and called Canada a “true friend” of Australia after meeting with Mr Carney.
Mr Albanese is also scheduled to meet leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Ishiba and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Australian Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national newswire and has been delivering accurate, reliable and fast news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We keep Australia informed.
