United States-Australia Framework For Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths

October 20, 2025

Recognizing that rare earth elements and critical minerals are vital for the advancement of modern technologies;

Recognizing that the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as the “United States” or “U.S.”) and the Commonwealth of Australia (hereinafter referred to as “Australia,” and collectively, the “Participants”) aim to bolster the supply of vital raw and processed critical minerals and rare earths essential for the defense and commercial sectors of both nations;

The Participants are committed to achieving this by utilizing economic policy instruments and coordinated investments to expedite the development of diverse, transparent, and equitable markets for critical minerals and rare earths;

Both nations’ goal is to enhance the resilience and security of their critical minerals and rare earths supply chains, encompassing all aspects from mining to separation and processing;

The Participants intend to leverage their existing domestic mining and processing capabilities in critical minerals and both heavy and light rare earths, alongside new developments scheduled for 2026.

Consequently, the Participants have agreed upon a mutual policy framework pertaining to the mining and processing of critical minerals and rare earths.

Section I

Critical Minerals and Rare Earths

1. Supply Assurance: The Participants are enhancing their collaborative initiatives to secure a stable supply of critical minerals and rare earths crucial for the manufacturing of defense systems and advanced technologies, utilizing existing policy frameworks such as the U.S. industrial demand and stockpiling capabilities, as well as Australia’s Critical Mineral Strategic Reserve.
2. Investment in Mining and Processing: The Participants will work together to harness both government and private investments for capital and operational costs through loans, equity, guarantees, insurance, or regulatory assistance.
   1. Project Prioritization: The Participants will jointly select projects addressing critical gaps in vital supply chains.
   2. Financial Commitment: Within six months from the date of this Framework, the Participants are committed to facilitating at least $1 billion in funding for projects based in the United States and Australia, aimed at creating end products for local buyers.
   3. Support for Investments: The Participants will collaborate to create innovative mechanisms that bolster the critical minerals and rare earths supply chains.
   4. Investment Ministerial: The Participants have resolved to stimulate investment in mining by assembling a Mining, Minerals, and Metals Investment Ministerial within 180 days from signing this Framework.
3. Streamlined Permitting: The Participants are enacting measures to expedite, simplify, or deregulate permit timelines and processes required for the mining, separation, and processing of critical minerals and rare earths within their respective regulatory frameworks, consistent with applicable legislation.
4. Price Regulation: The Participants will strive to shield their domestic critical minerals and rare earths markets from non-market influences and unfair trading practices, including by establishing standards-based trading systems that allow compliance-based trading within defined pricing mechanisms such as price floors. They will also engage with international partners on developing a global framework to address future international pricing issues.
5. Asset Transactions: The Participants are dedicated to collaboratively enhancing authorities and diplomatic instruments that monitor and potentially restrict sales of critical minerals and rare earths on national security grounds.
6. Recycling Efforts: The Participants commit to investing in mineral recycling technologies and will cooperate to manage scrap resources effectively in a manner that promotes supply chain diversification.
7. Collaboration with Third Parties: The Participants will work alongside third parties as necessary to fortify supply chain security and utilize existing collaborative frameworks.
8. Geological Studies: The Participants will assist each other in mapping mineral resources across Australia, the United States, and other agreed-upon locations to support diversified supply chains for critical minerals.
9. Rapid Response Initiatives: The Participants will establish a U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Supply Security Response Group, co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Energy and the Australian Minister for Resources, tasked with identifying key minerals and supply chain vulnerabilities and formulating a coordinated plan for timely delivery of processed minerals as outlined in this Framework.

Section II

General Provisions

1. The appropriate authorities from both Participants will conduct post-project evaluations and implementations. The details of these evaluations will be developed jointly, in line with their respective domestic laws.
2. The Participants will convene, either virtually or face-to-face, at the written request of either party within ten days of receipt of such request.
3. Either Participant may withdraw from this Framework by providing written notice to the other. Unless specified otherwise, any withdrawal would take effect thirty days following the receipt of the notification by the other Participant.
4. This Framework outlines a policy and action plan that does not establish rights or obligations under international or domestic law, does not invite legal action, and should not be interpreted as creating binding commitments, either explicitly or implicitly.

Executed in Washington, D.C., on this twentieth day of October, two thousand twenty-five.

On behalf of the Government of the                                                        For the Government of Australia:

United States of America:

Donald J. Trump                                                                   Anthony Albanese

President                                                                                 Prime Minister