US President Donald Trump met with Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday in a historic summit, culminating in the signing of a bilateral framework agreement to secure critical minerals and rare earths—a sector increasingly vital to global tech and defense industries.

Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, called for a “new golden age” in the U.S.-Japan alliance during their meeting at Tokyo’s Akasaka Palace.

Strategic Mineral Pact: A New Front in Economic Security

The agreement outlines joint efforts between Washington and Tokyo to:

  • Identify and fund new mining and processing projects within six months
  • Streamline permitting for critical minerals
  • Create a “Rapid Response Group” to handle supply disruptions
  • Explore joint stockpiling and emergency reserves
  • Confront foreign market manipulation, with indirect reference to China

“This partnership ensures reliable access to the critical materials needed for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defense systems,” said a White House spokesperson.

Why It Matters: Responding to China’s Rare Earth Dominance

The deal is seen as a direct challenge to China’s near-monopoly, as Beijing controls over 90% of rare earth processing globally. The move comes just weeks after China introduced new export restrictions, sparking concern across Western industries.

President Trump called China’s latest export controls a “bad moment” and emphasized the need for supply chain resilience in his remarks Tuesday.

“This agreement strengthens our national security and economic independence,” Trump said at the signing ceremony.

Symbolism & Diplomacy

In a symbolic gesture marking America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, Prime Minister Takaichi announced that Japan will gift 250 cherry blossom trees to Washington, D.C. next spring.

This agreement adds momentum to U.S. efforts to diversify supply chains away from China, especially as demand for rare earth elements surges amid the AI, EV, and clean energy boom. The U.S. currently has only one active rare earth mine, highlighting the strategic value of this partnership.

Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, in what could further define the direction of global trade and geopolitical alignment.

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