US and Australia sign $8.5 billion critical minerals agreement

US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical-minerals deal at the White House on Monday as Washington eyes the continent’s rich rare-earth resources when China is imposing tougher rules on exporting its own critical minerals abroad, according to AP.

“In about a year from now we’ll have so much critical mineral and rare earth that you won’t know what to do with them,” said Trump.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the deal would support a pipeline of $8.5 billion “ready-to-go” projects that would expand his country’s mining and processing abilities. He added that the agreement takes the US-Australia relationship “to the next level.”

Meanwhile the United Arab Emirates and Australia have issued a joint statement on the official visit to the UAE by Prime Minister, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, on September 29th.

On 29 September 2025, during an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the UAE, the Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, met the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Leaders underscored the strong and enduring friendship between their two countries, which has grown since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1975.

In recognition of those ties, the Leaders have decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership.

Noting that non-oil trade between the UAE and Australia continued to grow significantly in 2024, the Leaders committed to growing the economic relationship for the prosperity of both countries.

The two sides welcomed the expected entry into force of the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on 1 October 2025 and the Investment Protection Agreement.

Together with the associated investment Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), these instruments will form the cornerstone of the bilateral trade and investment relationship, unlocking economic opportunities, strengthening supply chains and advancing shared prosperity through enhancing market access and reducing trade barriers.

The CEPA will deepen cooperation to create new opportunities for businesses to drive growth, innovation and job creation.

Central to this is fostering sustainable and inclusive trade by creating a supportive environment that enables Indigenous Peoples, organisations, and businesses; small and medium-sized enterprises; and women-led businesses to actively participate in and benefit from international trade and investment facilitated by the CEPA.

Leaders recognised the significance of the CEPA containing the first ever standalone chapter on First Nations trade and investment in an Australian trade agreement.

The two sides noted the shared importance both countries place on two-way investment in renewable and green energy, critical minerals, agriculture and food, infrastructure, artificial intelligence and data centers. The Leaders underscored the UAE’s important role as a global logistics centre and hub, serving as a gateway for Australia’s exports to the broader region and beyond. They also committed to explore opportunities to further strengthen air connectivity.

The Leaders reiterated a shared commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system, including strengthening and reforming the World Trade organisation. Both Leaders emphasised the importance of robust economic cooperation and participation in global trade and investment frameworks, with a focus on advancing multilateral agreements.

The Leaders recognized their peoples as central to every aspect of the bilateral relationship. The longstanding connections between them are built on mutual values of respect. They reaffirmed the importance of a world where Indigenous Peoples’ rights and traditions are respected, Indigenous businesses thrive in open markets, and Indigenous Peoples are active participants and beneficiaries of the international system.

7. The Leaders noted the United Nations Security Council’s recognition in Resolution 2686 that hate speech, racism, gender discrimination and acts of extremism can contribute to driving conflict. In this context, the two sides further committed to enhance their partnership to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and to jointly address extremism, racism and hate speech.

The Leaders emphasised the importance of strengthening academic and educational cooperation, and committed to work toward greater linkages and mobility, including in education, technical and vocational education and training, research and institutional partnerships. This will build on existing collaboration, including through the network of Australian universities and Australian schools in the UAE.

Agencies