International partnerships

International partnerships are central to Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy. The government will continue to strengthen Australia’s position as a trusted and reliable partner by expanding our network of international partnerships that build more secure, resilient and diversified critical minerals supply chains. 

In 2024, Australian critical minerals were exported to 74 countries*, with international partnerships helping connect Australian projects with global markets, investors and end-users.

Australia’s international engagement on critical minerals spans several complementary forms of cooperation, reflecting the need to connect different parts of the global value chain and align policy, investment and capability across jurisdictions. Common forms include:

• bilateral partnerships
• multilateral coordination 
• commercial facilitation and investment.

* Based on 2024 international trade data (CEPII-BACI dataset) and departmental analysis of Australian critical minerals exports. The estimate excludes very small trade flows, scrap trade, selected broad commodity classifications and non-sovereign territories to better reflect meaningful export destinations.

Bilateral partnerships 

Australia’s bilateral partnerships on critical minerals support coordination across policy, investment and capability to develop secure and diversified critical minerals supply chains. These include formal cooperation frameworks, as well as practical collaboration to connect projects with markets, finance and downstream demand. Examples of Australia’s partnerships are set out in this appendix in alphabetical order, and are current as of July 2026.

Australia–European Union Partnership on Critical Minerals 

Australia’s cooperation with the EU focuses on linking Australian supply with European industrial demand, including through direct engagement with EU Member States. This reinforces our shared objective of diversifying critical mineral supply chains. The partnership covers the entire critical and strategic minerals value chain - exploration, extraction, processing, refining, recycling, and processing of extractive waste. 

Cooperation focuses on strengthening links between Australian critical minerals projects and EU industry. This includes increased bi-directional investment and commercial partnerships across the value chain. Financing is growing across investment banks, export credit agencies and member state-backed initiatives, to connect Australian supply with European processing, manufacturing and recycling capabilities. 

Australia–France Strategic Dialogue on Critical Minerals

Australia and France are identifying opportunities to contribute to each other’s reliable and ethical supply in critical minerals, helping ensure that critical minerals markets remain diverse, robust, and underpinned by good governance and sound environmental and ethical practices. 

The collaboration aims to facilitate information sharing, and research and development cooperation, including through identifying commercial arrangements that support ethical and sustainable international critical minerals supply chains.

Australia–India Critical Minerals Investment Partnership

Australia and India cooperate on critical minerals to support resilient, diversified and secure supply chains and to strengthen economic links across the critical minerals value chain. Cooperation under the partnership focuses on facilitating investment, commercial linkages and enhancing collaboration between government, industry and research institutions.

The partnership focuses on activities, such as research partnerships, geoscience cooperation and knowledge exchange to support capability development across processing, manufacturing and end-use markets. The partnership also provides a framework for connecting Australian critical minerals projects with Indian industrial and manufacturing demand to support investment and offtake opportunities across the value chain.

Australia–Japan Critical Minerals Partnership

Australia and Japan cooperate closely on critical minerals as a key pillar of our broader economic security partnership. Cooperation is focused on strengthening investment, policy coordination and supply chain diversification across the critical minerals value chain. This includes information sharing on public financing mechanisms, collaboration to address supply chain vulnerabilities, and support for strategic projects spanning mining, refining and downstream manufacturing.

Following the signing of the Australia–Japan Joint Statement on Elevated Critical Minerals Cooperation on 4 May 2026, critical minerals were elevated as a core component of the bilateral economic security partnership, reflecting the strategic importance of secure and resilient supply chains to long-term prosperity and industrial competitiveness. 

Australia–United Kingdom Joint Statement of Intent on Collaboration on Critical Minerals

Australia and the United Kingdom cooperate across the critical minerals value chain, to pursue shared objectives of increasing and diversifying global supply, building sovereign capabilities and new critical minerals industries. It also recognises critical minerals are essential to our modern economy and national security.

Cooperation under this arrangement includes a focus on improving access to finance for critical minerals projects, including engagement with export finance and private sector investors, supporting increased investment and commercial partnerships in Australia’s critical minerals sector.

Our cooperation also supports research and innovation partnerships. This includes advancing commercial opportunities and supporting the development of midstream processing capability, to address shared capability gaps across the value chain.

Australia–Republic of Korea Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Critical Mineral Supply Chains

Cooperation under this arrangement is focused on strengthening commercial linkages between Australian projects and Korean industry, including supporting investment into Australian critical minerals projects and connecting Australian producers with Korean manufacturers to develop alternative, robust and commercially viable critical mineral supply chains.

Bilateral cooperation continues to support coordination between governments and agencies and enable targeted cooperation activities across priority sectors, including key value chains such as batteries and critical technologies.

Joint Declaration of Intent between Canada and Australia on Critical Minerals Collaboration 

Cooperation under the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) focuses on leveraging complementary strengths to support investment, technological innovation, rules-based trade and enhancing development across the value chains.

The JDI establishes cooperation across key priority areas, including project financing, investment and trade; technology development and deployment; policy and regulatory alignment; standards-based markets; supply chain resilience; and information sharing.

Bilateral critical minerals cooperation is progressed through targeted activities, including exploring co-investment and offtake opportunities using public finance tools, collaboration on critical minerals reserve mechanisms, research and technical exchanges, workforce skills exchanges, and international collaboration to help shape development of standards-based markets. 

Joint Declaration of Intent on an Australian–German Value Chain Feasibility Study

Germany and Australia are committed to building diverse, resilient and sustainable critical minerals value chains. Cooperation with Germany, including through the Feasibility Study, creates opportunities to facilitate deeper strategic and investment collaboration to protect against external market shocks. 

This cooperation recognises the mutual benefits in connecting Australian critical minerals producers with Germany’s substantial manufacturing sector. It informs opportunities for collaboration, to remove barriers for industry, and to build on the use of green energy and ESG standards. 

United States–Australia Framework for Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths

Australia’s cooperation with the United States (US) on critical minerals focuses on linking Australian supply with US investment and downstream demand, while supporting resilient supply chains. The Framework supports coordinated action across investment, capability and market development. 

It also supports efforts to address shared market challenges, including pricing and non-market practices, improving regulatory processes and cooperation on recycling and geological mapping.

Multilateral cooperation 

Australia’s engagement in multilateral forums on critical minerals has expanded in scope and influence, with a more active role shaping discussions, convening partners and contributing to the development of shared approaches across key institutions and initiatives, outlined below in alphabetical order as of July 2026.

Conference on Critical Materials and Minerals

The Conference on Critical Materials and Minerals was established in 2011. It is held on a regular basis as part of cooperation between Australia, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Germany, France, and the European Commission, to exchange information and discuss cooperation on policies, research and development, and other areas related to critical minerals. Australia chaired the Conference on Critical Materials and Minerals in 2023 to exchange information on policies governing critical materials, technical R&D collaboration and related efforts.

Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), formerly the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)

Australia is working with FORGE partners to advance initiatives that strengthen diversified, resilient, and secure critical minerals supply chains. FORGE partners are coordinating support and prioritising joint investment and co-financing to de-risk and accelerate priority high-standards projects, including Australian critical minerals projects.

G7 Critical Minerals Resilience and Production Alliance

Australia is a member of the G7 Critical Minerals Resilience and Production Alliance, working closely with G7 members to coordinate diversification efforts and mobilise investment. The alliance provides a comprehensive platform for cooperation within the G7 and partner countries to strengthen the diversification and resilience of critical minerals value chains and streamline existing initiatives on critical raw materials.

International Energy Agency (IEA)

Australia remains an active member of the IEA Critical Minerals Working Party (CMWP), contributing to the IEA’s work on critical minerals security, including through participation in analysis, information sharing and coordination with partners to strengthen and diversify global critical minerals supply chains. 

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Australia is playing an active role in the development of international standards through chairing the ISO Strategic Advisory Group on critical minerals and materials. Australia chairs the Strategic Advisory Group in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to develop and disseminate technical standards for critical minerals and materials, including ESG considerations.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Australia supports the OECD’s research and analysis on critical minerals supply chains. The OECD is the leading global standard-setter for responsible business conduct for mineral supply chains and remains the primary global institution tracking export restrictions on critical minerals. This work is further supported by the OECD’s convening power and relations with both mineral producing and mineral consuming economies.

The Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States)

Australia engages through the Quad to advance cooperation on critical minerals as part of a broader focus on collective resilience in the Indo‑Pacific. Participation in the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative allows for collaboration on emerging policy settings, investment approaches and market norms, while positioning Australia’s domestic projects and processing capabilities as central to partner-led efforts to diversify supply chains and mobilise investment in the region. 

Commercial facilitation and investment 

Foreign investment and commercial offtake agreements are key to developing critical mineral projects in Australia. Austrade plays a central role in promoting Australia’s critical minerals pipeline to international investors and facilitating commercial partnerships in target markets. Through its global network, Austrade connects prospective offtakers, investors and downstream partners with Australian project proponents across mining, processing, refining and broader value chain development.

Austrade’s Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus includes a new midstream section of investable projects. It provides a curated opportunity to showcase Australia’s investment-ready critical minerals projects and opportunities for global investors and counterparties, including EV manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, traders, processors, end-users and direct investors seeking connections to Australian projects.

Austrade’s business missions, market briefings and targeted commercial facilitation help translate investor interest into practical engagement with Australian companies. This includes connecting Australian critical minerals projects with end-users, investors, traders and midstream processors across sectors such as batteries, magnets, high-performance alloys, advanced manufacturing and defence, and helping match investor interest with opportunities by commodity, project stage, geography and value chain segment.

While the prospectus is a key entry point for investors, it is not exhaustive. Austrade can also facilitate tailored introductions to additional opportunities aligned with investor requirements, helping international partners navigate Australia’s expanding project pipeline, including its growing midstream processing capability.

Other key engagements 

We are a founding member of the Sustainable Critical Minerals Alliance, which promotes sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible mining practices for the critical minerals sector alongside Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France and Germany.

Australia participates in a range of scientific and technical collaborations that support knowledge sharing, resource development and capability building. These include initiatives such as the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative, involving Geoscience Australia and international geological survey partners, and broader cooperation through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and Sustainable Critical Minerals Alliance.

Australia is a founding member of Pax Silica. The Pax Silica Declaration expresses signatories’ desire to build secure, prosperous and innovative global technology supply chains. Secure supply chains are critical to ensuring technological progress and economic security in Australia’s interests.