US President Donald Trump signed a monumental critical minerals agreement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday (October 20), in a bid to combat China’s near-absolute monopoly on the supply chains of rare earths.

The United States and Australia have committed at least $1 billion towards an $8.5 billion pipeline of projects over the next six months in mining and processing projects, as well as setting a minimum price floor for critical minerals.

Earlier this month, Trump announced 100% tariffs on China “over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” effective November 1. This was in response to new Chinese restrictions on items which used 0.1% of Chinese-sourced rare earths or Chinese extraction methods, effective December 1.

Here is what to know about

See Full Page