Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump are finalizing a landmark agreement to deepen cooperation on rare earths and other critical minerals, according to a report by the Asahi Shimbun on Tuesday.
The joint document, expected to be signed later today, aims to strengthen supply chains and enhance economic security as both nations respond to China’s tightening of export controls on rare earth elements — key materials used in smartphones, electric vehicles, and advanced military technology.
The agreement highlights Tokyo and Washington’s shared determination to reduce reliance on China, which currently produces the vast majority of the world’s rare earths.
Sources familiar with the negotiations said the deal will establish joint investment frameworks, promote research collaboration, and expand processing capacity in both countries to secure a more resilient global supply chain.
Initially, the White House had planned to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese rare earth exports in retaliation for Beijing’s new restrictions. However, both the U.S. and Japan have opted to support a diplomatic solution through a broader trade framework announced Sunday that would pause planned U.S. tariffs and suspend China’s new export controls if talks progress.
The agreement comes just days before Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The two leaders are expected to finalize a provisional trade arrangement aimed at preventing further escalation between the world’s two largest economies.
If both the Japan–U.S. pact and the U.S.–China framework move forward, analysts say it could mark a major step toward stabilizing global access to strategic materials that power everything from consumer electronics to defense systems.
“Securing critical mineral supply chains is not just about economics — it’s about national security,” a senior Japanese trade official told the Asahi Shimbun. “This agreement will help Japan, the U.S., and our partners build a more sustainable and independent foundation for the future.”
