On 24 August 2026, the Perth USAsia Centre was pleased to host a roundtable discussion with DFAT and a visiting delegation of senior United States congressional staff responsible for mining, critical minerals, and secure supply chain policy.  

The delegation included senior advisers to Members of Congress and staff from the House and Senate committees responsible for natural resources and critical minerals policy. Their visit to Australia formed part of a broader program of engagement with government, industry, and research leaders aimed at deepening understanding of Australia’s policy settings, resource endowment, and opportunities for deeper bilateral collaboration. 

Key insights from the conversation include: 

Bringing together critical minerals expertise from across the relationship, this discussion provided an opportunity to share perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector on both sides of the Pacific. Attended by representatives from industry, academia, and the resources sector, this roundtable showcased Western Australia’s role in critical mineral supply chains, and explored the policy, commercial, and strategic factors likely to shape the next phase of the Australia-US critical minerals partnership.