(MENAFN) The United States and Japan on Tuesday signed a cooperation deal to strengthen the production and supply of critical and rare-earth minerals, amid China’s tightening of export controls on these resources and chip-making equipment in response to US tariffs.

The agreement was reached during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Tokyo, where he met Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the first time.

According to the White House, the pact focuses on boosting joint projects essential for domestic industries, including advanced technologies, and on using coordinated economic and investment tools to accelerate the development of diversified, liquid, and fair markets for critical minerals and rare earths.

The leaders also signed a document directing their governments to “take further steps for a new golden age of the ever-growing US-Japan alliance.” Trump praised Japan as an “ally at the strongest level” and called Takaichi “one of the greatest prime ministers.” Takaichi, who assumed office last week, pledged to strengthen bilateral ties, describing the US-Japan alliance as “the greatest in the world.”

Trump has consistently prioritized securing access to rare-earth minerals globally, seeking both economic opportunities and geopolitical leverage. Earlier in 2025, the US signed similar agreements with Ukraine and Australia aimed at countering China’s dominance in the rare-earth and critical minerals sector.

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