President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference. (AP)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, aiming to secure stronger American support for Australia’s critical minerals sector as China tightens its control over global supply chains.

Trump and Albanese signed an agreement on rare earth minerals.

“Today’s agreement on critical minerals and rare earths is just taking it to the next level, seizing those opportunities, which are before us,” Albanese said.

Australia is rich in rare earth resources that the U.S. is eager to tap, as China imposes tougher export rules on its own critical minerals.

Trump said the agreement had been negotiated over several months.

Albanese stressed the close relationship between the two cou

See Full Page