Japan and the United States Sign Historic Agreement on Rare Earth Cooperation
U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed a historic cooperation agreement in Tokyo on October 28, 2025, aimed at securing the supply of rare earth elements and critical minerals. The pact seeks to reduce dependence on China, which currently handles over 90% of the world’s processing of these vital materials used in defense, energy, and technology industries.
The agreement, titled Japan-U.S. Framework for Securing Supply of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths through Mining and Processing, includes joint commitments to develop extraction, recycling, and investment in new supply chains. In addition, Japan announced a $550 billion investment in the United States as part of a broader trade deal.
Prime Minister Takaichi described the alliance with the United States as “the strongest in the world” and said the pact marks “a new golden era” of cooperation between the two nations. Analysts note that this move strengthens the joint strategy against China’s increasing restrictions on the export of strategic minerals.
