When US President Donald Trump pulled out his trademark Sharpie to ink a minerals compact with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the tie-up seemed neat as could be.

Behind the scenes, the deal had been faltering for months. Negotiations went right down to the wire to seal it before the meeting on Tuesday, Australian time.

Trade Minister Don Farrell had nearly finished work on Monday when a brief landed on his desk at about 5pm. Funding for two critical minerals projects that would be packaged up into the headline $8.5 billion pact required his signature. That calmed Farrell’s nerves. The resources deal, crucial to the success of the White House visit, was on track.

The Australian side first offered guaranteed access to critical minerals, which are essential to everything from electric

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