UK and US sign Memorandum of Understanding on critical minerals

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

For Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths

Whereas, critical minerals are essential for the production of advanced technologies;

Whereas, the Government of the United States of America (the “United States” or “U.S.”) and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the “United Kingdom” or “U.K.”) (collectively, the “Participants”) intend to support the supply of raw and processed critical minerals crucial to the commercial and defense industries of both countries;

Whereas, the Participants plan to accomplish this through the use of economic policy tools and coordinated investment to accelerate the development of diversified, liquid, and fair markets for critical minerals;

Whereas, the Participants’ objective is to assist both countries in achieving resilience and security of critical minerals supply chains, including mining, separation, and processing;

Whereas, the Participants intend to capitalize on their respective existing domestic mining and processing operations in critical minerals, as well as new capacity to be made available in 2026 and beyond.

Therefore, the Participants have reached the following understanding on a common policy approach for the mining and processing of critical minerals.

Section I

Critical Minerals

1. Securing Supply:
   The Participants commit to intensify cooperative efforts to accelerate the secure supply of critical minerals and rare earths necessary to support the manufacturing of defense and advanced technologies and their respective industrial bases. This includes leveraging existing policy tools in both countries.
2. Investment in Mining and Processing:
   The Participants commit to mobilizing government support where appropriate, and encouraging private sector investment, via tools such as guarantees, loans, equity investments, finalization of private-sector offtake arrangements, insurance, or regulatory facilitation.a. Project Selection: The Participants intend to jointly identify critical mineral and rare earth projects of interest to address gaps in priority supply chains.b. Financing: The Participants intend to take measures to provide financing to develop projects located in each country, expected to generate end products for delivery to buyers in the United States and the United Kingdom.c. Investment Support: The Participants intend to work together to develop new or bespoke mechanisms to strengthen critical minerals and rare earths supply chains.d. Investment coordination: The Participants intend to inform each other, where appropriate, about investment activity that may significantly impact domestic capabilities in both countries.e. Ministerial: The Participants have decided to promote investment in critical minerals supply chains by convening a Mining, Minerals and Metals Investment Ministerial within 180 days of the operative date of this Memorandum of Understanding.
3. Permitting: The Participants are taking measures to streamline permitting timelines and processes, including to obtain permits for critical minerals and rare earths mining, separation, and processing within their respective domestic regulatory systems, consistent with applicable law.
4. Pricing: The Participants intend to work, in accordance with their own domestic law, to secure their respective critical minerals and rare earths industries from non-market policies and unfair trade practices. This includes establishing high standard marketplaces and working with international partners to develop a global approach to address associated international pricing challenges.
5. Asset Sales: The Participants commit to, where relevant, using their existing legislative and diplomatic tools to review, deter and, if necessary, restrict critical minerals and rare earths asset sales on national security grounds.
6. Scrap and Recycling: The Participants commit to supporting minerals recycling technology and working together to ensure the management of critical minerals and rare earths scrap to support supply chain diversification.
7. Third-Party Cooperation: The Participants intend to collaborate with other international partners, as appropriate, to ensure supply chain security and utilize existing engagement mechanisms.
8. Geological Mapping:  The Participants intend to cooperate to assist in mapping mineral resources in the United Kingdom, the United States and, as appropriate, other jointly determined locations to support diversified critical mineral and rare earth supply chains.

Section II

General Provisions

1. Post-Project Analysis: The appropriate authorities of the Participants intend to carry out post-project analysis and implementation. The specific content of the post-project analysis is to be developed between/among the Participants, in accordance with their respective domestic law.
2. Meetings: The Participants intend to meet, virtually or in person, at the written request of the other Participant within 10 days of receiving the request.
3. Operation and Discontinuation: This Memorandum of Understanding becomes operative upon signature.  Either Participant may discontinue its participation in this Memorandum of Understanding by providing written notification to the other Participant. Absent notice to the contrary from the discontinuing participant, any such discontinuation would be effective on the thirtieth day after the date of receipt of the written notification by the other participant.
4. Non-Binding Nature: This Memorandum of Understanding sets out a policy and programmatic action plan that does not constitute or create rights or obligations under domestic or international law, does not give rise to any legal process, and does not constitute or create any legally binding or enforceable obligations, express or implied. All activities described in this Memorandum of Understanding are subject to the availability of funds.

The foregoing record represents the understandings reached between the Government of United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Signed in Washington this 4th day of February 2026.