Malcolm Turnbull says Australia is getting off to a good start with US president-elect Donald Trump's team.
Labor and the Greens are urging a cautious approach to the new administration, with parliament next week set to debate a motion to ditch Australia's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.
A federal cabinet meeting in Melbourne on Tuesday received briefings from several ministers, including defence, defence industry and foreign affairs, on how the new administration could impact Australia.
The prime minister, who will meet with US President Barack Obama at the Peru APEC summit in coming days, said the government had put in the ground work.
"One of the great things Joe (Hockey) has done, and indeed our government has done, is made sure that we stayed in touch with both sides in the election campaign so that whatever the result we were able to get off to a good start with the new administration," Mr Turnbull told Triple M radio on Wednesday.
Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, who revealed the cabinet discussion, said the government was "very much across the Trump team".
Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong says the focus should shift to another trade deal known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
"We need to work with our regional partners during this period of uncertainty to identify areas of common interest and jointly seek to influence US thinking on these," Senator Wong said.
"First among these is continued constructive US engagement in our region."
