Minister trumpets free trade in Washington

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann will talk up the benefits of free trade and anti-protectionism when he meets global economic leaders in Washington.

The finance minister will talk up the benefits of free trade at an economic meeting in Washington. (AAP)

Australia's finance minister will trumpet the virtues of free trade and anti-protectionism when he meets global economic leaders in Washington.

Mathias Cormann - who is in the US for talks with world financial leaders - noted the International Monetary Fund had warned against the impact of increased protectionism on global growth.

"Certainly Australia has an open trading economy engaged with the world focused on doing as much business as possible with other parts of the world," he told Sky News from Washington on Friday.

"We are keen to see all economies around the world be engaged and as open and as freely engaged in trade as possible. That certainly will continue to be our message at these meetings here in Washington this week."

Senator Cormann said he had had good meetings with Trump administration officials in recent days, with the nations in agreement on pursuing more competitive business tax rates.

"The United States is very focused on how they can ensure businesses here can be more successful and employ more Americans in the same way the Australian government, the Turnbull government, is very focused on helping ensure our businesses can be as successful as possible," he said.