[Title] UNITED STATES-JAPAN ACTION PLAN FOR CRITICAL MINERALS SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE, U.S.-JAPAN CRITICAL MINERALS NEGOTIATIONS

UNITED STATES-JAPAN ACTION PLAN FOR CRITICAL MINERALS SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE
U.S.-JAPAN CRITICAL MINERALS NEGOTIATIONS

1. Introduction

In recent decades, distortions resulting from pervasive non-market policies and practices have left critical minerals supply chains of market-oriented economies vulnerable to a myriad of disruptions, including economic coercion. Correcting these vulnerabilities is imperative, as critical minerals are strategic assets integral to modern and innovative industrial economies, and diverse, resilient, and market-based supply chains are essential for our economic and national security.

The United States and Japan have previously decided to cooperate to secure a supply of critical minerals. On October 27, 2025, the White House and the Government of Japan released the United States-Japan Framework for Securing the Supply of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths through Mining and Processing. The two countries continue to desire to deepen their cooperation on this important issue.

To this end, the United States and Japan (collectively, “the Participants”) seek to develop a plurilateral trade initiative in critical minerals supported by price floors or other measures, and have established an Action Plan to deliver concrete, near-term results towards securing mutual supply chain resilience for critical minerals.

2. Action Plan

The Participants will expeditiously implement the following Action Plan:

- The Participants will discuss, including with other participants, the feasibility and development of coordinated trade policies and mechanisms, such as border- adjusted price floors or other measures for critical minerals imports, focusing in the first instance on select critical minerals.

- The Participants will discuss ways to maintain and strengthen midstream and downstream industries’ competitiveness.

- The Participants will further consult on how such border-adjusted price floors or other measures may be embodied in a plurilateral agreement on trade in critical minerals, including any other provisions that would be necessary to ensure supply chain resilience for contracting parties to such an agreement. Such other provisions may include, but would not be limited to:

-- Trade measures to support a resilient critical minerals marketplace among the contracting parties;

-- Standards for mining, processing, or trade in critical minerals; o Technical and regulatory cooperation;

-- Investment promotion and screening;

-- Geological mapping coordination;

-- Coordinated rapid responses to prevent disruptions and crises in critical minerals supply chains;

-- Research and development of new critical minerals technologies; o Coordinated stockpiling; and

-- Coordination on actions to address economic coercion.

- The Participants will identify specific mining, processing, and manufacturing projects for critical minerals of mutual interest in the United States, Japan, or third countries, which comply with internationally recognized responsible business conduct standards, and will prioritize financing and other policy support for those projects. The Participants will endeavor to bring more transparency to the market by sharing information about the location of potential critical mineral deposits developed by their respective government surveyors, including the U.S. Geological Survey and the Japanese equivalent.

3. This Action Plan will be developed on behalf of the Participants by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Finance (MOF).