US EditionAlbanese’s Meeting with Trump Is a Warning to Australia’s Enemies
The deal aims to counter China's export limits on rare-earth minerals while the U.S. resumes loan forgiveness for 2.5 million federal borrowers after a union lawsuit.
- On Monday, President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical‑minerals deal at the White House, describing it as an $8.5 billion agreement with $1.5 billion invested per side within six months.
- To secure rare earths as China tightens exports, the deal aims to stitch the US and Australia together to supply rare‑earth resources and critical minerals, while Beijing has opposed it.
- Summit rhetoric tied the minerals pact to defence cooperation when President Donald Trump declared `full steam ahead` for AUKUS, a stance making Beijing extremely nervous.
- On Friday, the administration and the teachers union agreed that the Education Department will process loan forgiveness for eligible borrowers, resuming relief for 2.5 million and protecting them from tax bills this year.
- The pact further locks the United States and Australia together as analysts say it guarantees critical minerals supply chains and raises Australia's stature with Japan, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in recent years.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
Albanese’s meeting with Trump is a warning to Australia’s enemies
The critical minerals deal has thrust Australia into a position of power in the United States’ battle against China, sending a powerful message to allies – and others: You can’t ignore us any more.
Trump admin agrees to cancel student loan debt for up to 2.5 million borrowers
The AFT sued the Trump administration in March 2025, after President Trump reversed Biden-era student-loan forgiveness policies and issued an order to halt all IDR enrollment and processing.
Dominic Raab says Australia's critical minerals deal with US 'a great step forward'
Sarah Ferguson presents Australia's premier daily current affairs program, delivering agenda-setting public affairs journalism and interviews that hold the powerful to account. Plus political analysis from Laura Tingle.
Ticker: US and Australia sign critical-minerals agreement; Trump administration pledges to speed some student loan forgiveness
President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical-minerals deal at the White House on Monday as the U.S. eyes the continent’s rich rare-earth resources at a time when China is imposing tougher rules on exporting its own critical minerals abroad. The two leaders described the agreement as an $8.5 billion deal between the allies. Trump said it had been negotiated over several months. “In about a year from now …
US Exim signals support for Australian critical minerals projects
The move is part of a wider US$8.5bn critical minerals agreement between the US and Australia to reduce dependency on China The Export-Import Bank of the United States (US Exim) has signed seven letters of interest (LOIs) totalling more than US$2.2bn to advance critical minerals projects in Australia, as part of a broader deal signed between the two countries this week. The LOIs were issued to Arafura Rare Earths, Northern Minerals, Graphinex, …
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