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Category: APEC Economic Leaders Meeting / Trade / Globalisation - Economy / World Politics / Foreign Affairs

Turnbull meets with Obama, talks trade, terrorism and Trump

Monday, 21 Nov 2016 04:01:20 | Greg Jennett

Barack Obama and Malcolm Turnbull met at the summit to discuss trade and foreign policy. (Reuters: Kevin Lamarque)

Barack Obama is ending his final overseas trip in office, holding a lengthy meeting with the fourth Australian Prime Minister of his Presidency.

Key points:

  • Malcolm Turnbull met with President Barack Obama at APEC Summit in Peru
  • Trade, terrorism and economic policy under the Trump administration were key points of discussion
  • Turnbull met with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau earlier in the day

On the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Peru, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to tease out Mr Obama's expectations of how US security and economic policy may change under the Trump administration.

Before the meeting, Mr Turnbull nominated trade and "our strategic commitments, particularly in the battle against terrorism" as key points of discussion.

Although Mr Obama's term is ending, the Australian Government is keen to feed its perspectives on foreign policy into Washington DC, before the new administration takes power on January 20.

One official has described the meeting as a "stocktake" on current alliance activities.

Mr Turnbull has carefully avoided any criticism of Donald Trump since his election, but within the Government there is anxiety over how aggressive the President-elect may be in acting on his pledge to "take out ISIS."

Before his meeting with President Obama, Mr Turnbull had a working breakfast in Lima with the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shake hands Photo: Before his meeting with President Obama, PM Malcolm Turnbull met with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. (ABC News: Greg Jennett)

"Big political changes in your neighbourhood, I hear?" the Prime Minister quipped, before spending more than 40 minutes with the Canadian leader.

"We've had a very constructive meeting," Mr Turnbull later reported.

"Canada and Australia have got a very common view of the world, of the security issues — we're partners right across the board."

Canadian officials briefed their travelling media that "migration" was canvassed in the meeting, but no further details have been provided.

The North American nation has been held out by both sides of Australian politics as a potential third country for refugee resettlement, the Australian Government has not said whether a deal was discussed by the Prime Ministers in Lima.

AustraliaPlus


 

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