Visit to the United States

I will visit Washington DC from 20-22 February to meet with Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The Australia-United States Alliance is the cornerstone of our foreign and strategic relationship with the United States.

I will also meet senior members of the new United States Administration and leading foreign policy thinkers to share views on advancing Australia's interests with our American partners. I will reinforce Australia's commitment to the Alliance and to our ongoing cooperation in responding to regional and global challenges, including to the US-led coalition to counter Daesh.

The United States' presence in the Indo-Pacific has provided the stability that has underwritten the region's growth for decades. I look forward to discussing further opportunities for Australia and the United States to promote peace, prosperity, security and stability in our part of the world and beyond.

Australia is an open, liberal trading nation. Under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), two-way trade has grown to more than $69 billion in 2015-16 and two-way investment is worth $1.45 trillion. I will continue to make the case for free trade and open markets as drivers of jobs and growth.