Trump Takaichi Sign US-Japan Critical Minerals Supply Deal

President Donald Trump and Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have signed a significant agreement to enhance cooperation on the processing and supply of critical minerals and rare earth materials, aiming to reduce dependency on China, which dominates global rare earth processing. This agreement includes financial support for mining projects, streamlining and deregulating permitting processes, and coordinated investment to develop diversified and fair markets for these essential materials used in electronics, renewable energy, and defense systems. The deal is part of a broader effort to secure critical mineral supply chains amid China's recent export restrictions and tightened controls. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister and a protege of the late Shinzo Abe, pledged to increase Japan's defense spending and advance a “new golden age” in the U.S.-Japan alliance, highlighting the strategic importance of their partnership. Both leaders also plan to explore stockpiling arrangements and collaborate with other international partners to ensure supply chain security. This framework was signed during Trump's Asia trip, which includes his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscoring the geopolitical significance of the rare earths agreement.