President Donald Trump has stated his intention to discuss trade with the Australian Prime Minister, acknowledging the Australian government’s attempts to contact him. The upcoming federal election in Australia adds an element of uncertainty, as incumbent Anthony Albanese is favored to win but there could be a change in leadership. Trump confirmed his readiness to engage in trade discussions with the Australian Prime Minister when questioned by Australian reporters. Despite Albanese dismissing Trump’s remarks as a casual comment and expressing his focus on the election campaign, the Australian government has been actively seeking negotiations with the Trump administration regarding tariffs, including a minimum 10% tariff on most Australian imports. The issue of tariffs has been a point of contention in the Australian election, with criticism directed at Albanese for not personally engaging with Trump to seek exemptions. While Australia managed to secure the lowest tariff rate of 10% among all countries affected, Albanese has consistently criticized Trump’s tariff policies as damaging to the US-Australia relationship. The Treasurer of Australia, Jim Chalmers, highlighted ongoing engagement with the US administration at various levels to protect national economic interests. Notably, most of the US tariff regime has been temporarily halted, with a looming deadline for the 10% baseline tariff to potentially resume in July. Amidst global trade tensions, China remains a focal point with reciprocal tariffs in place between the US and China. The US Commerce Secretary hinted at a potential tariff deal with an unnamed parliamentary democracy, awaiting approval from their leadership.