Trump Lauds Albanese at APEC Dinner, Touts U.S.–Australia Rare‑Earths Cooperation

Overview

• Trump and Albanese met for the second time in 10 days, sitting side by side in Gyeongju as Trump said “we’re working together on rare earths.”
• Reports from the White House visit describe a signed multibillion‑dollar agreement to increase U.S. access to Australia’s critical minerals, with few terms disclosed publicly.
• Trump told attendees he and South Korea’s president had “pretty much finalised” a trade deal, while neither side released details.
• He said forthcoming talks with China’s Xi Jinping would run several hours and suggested he was close to an arrangement that could ease some U.S. tariffs.
• The ceremonial dinner, held in Trump’s honor, drew eight regional leaders, and Trump posted that he would not speak with Canada’s Mark Carney “for a while.”