US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed an agreement establishing a framework for trade and the supply of critical minerals during their bilateral meeting in Tokyo on 28 October. The objective is to enhance the resilience and security of these materials, which are vital for the defence, automotive, and electronic industries. The deal follows China’s recent tightening of export controls on critical minerals and aims to accelerate the development of diversified, liquid, and fair markets through coordinated investment and economic policy. The agreement underscores a deepening of the US-Japan economic security alliance.