Australia's Albanese backs free trade

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated the importance of free trade, with the country's pillar resources and mining sectors the latest to feel the impact of challenges to the global economy amid worldwide tariffs from the United States.

"Australia remains a strong supporter of free and fair trade, because we think that is in the interests of Australia and the United States, and indeed the global economy," Albanese said on the ABC news channel on Tuesday.

He was addressing questions on when he would meet with US President Donald Trump to tackle the "difficult issues" of trade and tariffs.