Anthony Albanese departs Canberra on Sunday afternoon for a long-anticipated face-to-face talk with the US president in their first bilateral meeting at the White House.
Set to dominate discussions are the AUKUS defence agreement, which is being reviewed by the Trump administration, and tariffs on Australian exports.
While most Australian goods are slugged with the lowest tariff rate of any country at 10 per cent, steel and aluminium products carry a 50 per cent rate.
A statement from Mr Albanese framed the trip as an opportunity for the two nations to deepen ties, including on trade on investment.
The prime minister will be joined by Resources Minister Madeleine King and Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres for parts of the trip.
The US is unlikely to scrap or lower the duty despite attempts by Australia for an exemption, Australian National University political academic John Hart said.
"I don't see how Trump can make an exception for Australia and keep the tariff for everyone else," he told AAP.
"If he did, it would put Australia offside with a lot of other trading partners affected by this because if the tariff was reduced, Australia would be sell more steel and aluminium than competitors.
"Australia has got to live with the steel and aluminium tariffs."
The prime minister said he was looking forward to a "positive and constructive" meeting with Mr Trump.
"Australia and the United States have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in every major conflict for over a century," Mr Albanese said.
"Our meeting is an important opportunity to consolidate and strengthen the Australia-United States relationship."
Mr Albanese would face challenges in dealing with Mr Trump on his home turf, Dr Hart said, after other world leaders faced tense exchanges with the president at the Oval Office.
"Trump's behaviour is entirely unpredictable and that is an issue as far as the prime minister is concerned," he said.
Australian officials have been laying the groundwork for a potential deal with the US on access to critical mineral reserves, with the hope it could be used as a bargaining chip for the reduction of tariffs.
Dr Hart said the main goal for the prime minister would be ensuring the AUKUS submarine deal remained in place.
The US Defence Department is reviewing the agreement worth more than $300 billion to ensure it aligns with Mr Trump's "America First" agenda.
"If the US disengages with AUKUS it would be earth-shattering," he said.
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