US, EU sign critical minerals agreement

The United States and European Union have signed a critical minerals agreement aimed at securing reliable and affordable supply chains. The pact, signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European Union Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, seeks to boost joint production and reduce dependencies on other nations. This cooperation is part of a broader strategic effort to strengthen economic security and support clean energy transitions. The deal formalizes a framework for collaboration on the extraction, processing, and recycling of minerals essential for modern technologies.