New Zealand has been holding closed-door discussions with the United States on the supply of critical minerals, as Donald Trump threatens to place new tariffs on countries who fail to sign a deal. The admission comes on the back of a memorandum submitted to the Waitangi Tribunal, in which claimants noted a “secret” critical minerals deal struck between The US and Australia last year. Critical minerals were a limiting factor in both of these aspirations, but the Australian deal excited him. It was not clear which foreign nations Trump had in mind, but the proclamation was based on a report he received just four days after Albanese paid a visit. In January 2025, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment published the Crown’s minerals strategy with a list of 37 “critical minerals” – 21 of which could be exploited here (including coal, which is not a mineral).