President Donald Trump met with the prime minister of Australia. They signed an agreement on Australia's rare-earth minerals and discussed trade and the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.

President Trump signed an agreement Monday to heighten cooperation with Australia on rare earth materials and critical minerals.

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical-minerals deal at the White House on Monday as the U.S. eyes the continent’s rich rare-earth resources at a

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an $8.5 billion rare earths agreement to reduce dependence on China's mineral supply dominance.

Some Trump officials had questioned whether the U.S. could afford the deal when Washington is trying to bulk up its own fleet.

The Australian prime minister said the critical minerals deal takes the U.S.-Australia relationship "to the next level."

By Andrea Shalal, Kirsty Needham and Ernest Scheyder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a rare earths and critical minerals agreement on Monday aimed at ensuring a steady supply of the materials as China tries to tighten control over global supply.

President Donald Trump and Australian PM Anthony Albanese sign a critical-minerals agreement. The two leaders described the treaty as an $8.5 billion deal between allies that Albanese says takes "to the next level" the two countries' relationship.

The $8.5-billion deal comes as the White House seeks to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains and as Australia looks to shore up ties with the U.S.

Reserves of critical minerals are front and center as President Donald Trump holds his first formal meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday.

Donald Trump has clashed with Australian reporters, labelling one journalist "nasty" during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.