Nigeria TV Info – Japan and US Set to Seal Landmark Deal on Rare Earth Minerals Amid China Tensions

Tokyo, Japan (October 28, 2025) – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and United States President Donald Trump are finalising a major joint agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in the development and supply of rare earth minerals, according to a report by the Asahi Shimbun on Tuesday.

The landmark document is expected to be signed later today during a high-level meeting in Tokyo. The move comes as both countries seek to secure reliable access to critical minerals used in key technologies, including smartphones, electric vehicles, advanced weaponry, satellites, and fighter jets.

The new cooperation deal is seen as a strategic response to China’s recent tightening of export controls on rare earth elements. China currently dominates global production of these minerals, giving Beijing significant influence over worldwide supply chains.

The Tokyo–Washington pact underscores a shared determination to reduce dependence on China and safeguard economic and national security interests.

According to earlier reports, the White House had initially planned to impose a 100% tariff on certain Chinese exports in retaliation for the export restrictions. However, recent diplomatic discussions led both sides to consider a potential trade framework that could pause both the US tariff plan and China’s new export controls—pending further negotiations.

If successfully implemented, the agreement could reshape global mineral supply chains and reduce the risk of supply disruptions affecting high-tech industries across the world.