Space to top agenda in Aussie PM's meeting with Trump

Canberra, Sep 20 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will discuss trade opportunities in space travel and minerals such as rare earth when he meets US President Donald Trump during his official trip to Washington.

Morrison, who landed in Washington on Friday morning, told the Australian Financial Review (AFR) that he wants to "crack open" opportunities in the space and minerals industries, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Whether it's new opportunities for our space agency, locking us into a supply chain, to collaborating with businesses and groups in the US through to the growth in quality critical minerals and rare earth that our miners export, our trading relationship has been diversifying," he said.

"We've got a foot in the door and I want to use this trip to crack it open."

The Australian Prime Minister also said that his country has a trade deficit with the US.

"The US has also benefited significantly from our trade, having enjoyed a trade surplus with Australia since the Truman administration," he added.

Besides meeting Trump, Morrison and his wife, Jenny, will also visit Chicago, Ohio and New York till September 27.