Australian firms eye huge US backing following critical materials deal

The critical minerals agreement signed between the US and Australia paves the way for Washington’s clean technology standards to play a bigger role across the Indo-Pacific.

On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima last month, Australia and the US signed a “climate, critical minerals and clean energy transformation compact”. The agreement positions climate and clean energy as a “third pillar” of the alliance between the two countries, alongside defence and economic co-operation.