A short time ago, one of Trump’s senior advisers made some comments at the White House about the Australian visit.
Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, praised Australia’s mining industry and the country’s capacity to help dismantle China’s stranglehold on the world’s supply of critical minerals.
He said the US was not looking for Australia to decouple from China, but to help de-risk the global economy.
“I don’t think the president believes that decoupling is the right answer. As [Treasury] Secretary [Scott] Bessent says, it’s all about de-risking,” Hassett said.”
“Australia is really, really going to be helpful in the effort to take the global economy and make it less risky, less exposed to the kind of rare earth extortion that we’re seeing from the Chinese.
“One of the best mining economies on earth and the smartest and most capable refiners are in Australia, and they’ve got lots and lots of rare earths. I think there’ll be a lot of conversation about that matter today.”
Any deals or announcements to come from the meeting would be up to Trump and Albanese, he said.
Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, speaks to the media outside the White House on Monday.Credit: Bloomberg
