Trade USA and Australia want to expand cooperation on rare earths
The USA and resource-rich Australia want to strengthen their cooperation in the mining and processing of rare earths. This was agreed by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House.
21.10.2025, 08:14
SDA
By expanding its cooperation with its ally Australia, the US government also wants to reduce its dependence on China, which dominates the extraction and processing of rare earths. Metals known as rare earths are used in the manufacture of smartphones, wind turbines, electric cars and military equipment.
According to Australia, the agreement between the two countries is intended to initiate raw material extraction projects worth 8.5 billion US dollars. The raw materials to be mined have an estimated value of 53 billion US dollars, the White House explained.
The US Department of Defense, which was recently renamed the Department of War, also plans to invest in the construction of a large gallium refinery in Australia. The metal is needed for the production of semiconductors and defense equipment, among other things.
Head of government Albanese explained that Australia has most of the crucial raw materials and rare earths required for the defense industry and other advanced technologies. The mining sector is an important economic sector for Australia, which is rich in raw materials.
