<h1>US-Australia critical-minerals deal secures rare-earth supply chains to reduce dependence on China and bolster allied industrial resilience.</h1> The United States and Australia signed an $8.5 billion critical-minerals agreement to develop, refine, and supply rare-earth and other critical minerals aimed at diversifying allied access and reducing dependence on single-source suppliers in response to foreign export controls, with associated emphasis on supply-chain resilience and alignment with existing defense cooperation.