President Donald Trump, left, accompanied by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, arrives at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 28, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP
U.S. President Donald Trump and Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, on Tuesday (October 28, 2025) signed a framework agreement for securing the supply of critical minerals and rare earths through mining and processing, the White House said in a statement.
The agreement was signed during Mr. Trump’s visit to Japan, part of his wider Asia trip, as both countries are looking to strengthen their rare earth supply chains used everywhere from renewable energy to electronics and cars.
The U.S. and Japan plan to cooperate through use of economic policy tools and coordinated investment to accelerate development of diversified, liquid, and fair markets for critical minerals and rare earths, the statement said.
China processes more than 90% of the world’s rare earths and has recently expanded export curbs, including new elements on its control list and tightened oversight of foreign producers that rely on Chinese materials.
The U.S., by contrast, has one operational rare earth mine and is racing to secure minerals vital for electric vehicles, defense systems and advanced manufacturing. Trump plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
As part of their deal, the U.S. and Japan agreed to streamline and deregulate permitting timelines and processes for critical minerals and rare earths, as well as to address non-market policies and unfair trade practices.
Both countries would consider a mutually complementary stockpiling arrangement and would cooperate with other international partners to ensure supply chain security, the White House statement added.
Trump praises Japan’s new prime minister, says US an ‘ally at strongest level’
U.S. President Donald Trump began one of his busiest days of his Asia trip by warmly greeting the new Japanese Prime Minister, with plans to later speak to US troops aboard an aircraft carrier and mingle with business leaders.
“It’s a very strong handshake,” Mr. Trump said, as the pair posed for photos at the Akasaka Palace in downtown Tokyo, before Trump was guided into the ballroom for an honour guard.
They were earlier heard chatting about late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a close political ally of Ms. Takaichi who struck up a bond with Mr. Trump in his first term during hours spent golfing together.
“He was a great friend of mine and a great friend of yours,” Mr. Trump said to Ms. Takaichi as he entered the palace.
Mr. Trump was last at the palace, an ornate residence built in a European style, in 2019 for talks with Abe, who was assassinated in 2022.
He received a royal welcome shortly after his arrival on Monday (October 27), meeting with Japanese Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace.
Gifting Abe’s golf club
During their meeting, Ms. Takaichi will present Mr. Trump with one of Abe’s golf clubs in a gesture meant to rekindle the close bond the two leaders had formed on golf courses in Japan and the United States, a source familiar with the plan told Reuters.
The source sought anonymity as they were not allowed to speak to the media.
A similar close relationship with the leader of Japan’s key security and trade partner could help Ms. Takaichi bolster her weak political position at home.
Though she has seen a surge in public support since becoming Prime Minister, her coalition government is two votes shy of a majority in parliament’s lower house.
On Tuesday (October 28) afternoon Mr. Trump and Ms. Takaichi will visit the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka near Tokyo, which is home to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, part of the U.S. military’s powerful presence in the region.
Mr. Trump will meet business leaders in Tokyo, before travelling on Wednesday to South Korea. In talks there with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said he hopes to seal a trade war truce between the world’s two biggest economies
Published – October 28, 2025 06:57 am IST
