President Donald Trump shakes hands with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman during an official dinner in the East Room of the White House on Nov. 18, 2025. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
The Trump administration negotiated critical minerals pacts with nations across three continents in 2025, a pace that will accelerate in 2026 as the United States and trading partners integrate mining and processing capacities to break free from China’s manipulation of global metals markets.
“We have at least a dozen more [pacts] we are discussing that I don’t think have been made public yet with countries around the world,” State Department Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Reggie Singh said.
