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US to prioritize rare earths, plastic cleanup in Australia PM visit

President Donald Trump will prioritize conversations concerning rare earths supplies and reducing ocean plastic pollution during Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Sept. 20 visit to the White House, according to senior administration officials.

Morrison's Washington visit comes as U.S. senators have sounded the alarm on China's ability to restrict imports of minerals and metals, including cobalt and lithium, which are critical to technology production.

"We're going to be rolling out a plan to improve security and supply of rare earths in a way that's mutually beneficial to both countries and strengthens our fiscal security and our economic security," senior administration officials told reporters on a press briefing call held Sept. 19.

Officials did not respond to specific questions about whether that action would come in the form of an executive order or another document, instead stating the leaders and their staff would be looking at ways to ensure that "there is a stable and secure global market that is not easily disrupted by shocks and outside influences."

Trump and Morrison are also slated to discuss ocean plastic cleanup, as administration officials said the two countries would be "rolling out" recycling and waste management programs with a specific emphasis on oceans plastic, an area of mutual concern for the U.S. and Australia.

"Both countries have been looking over the last several years at ways to reduce oceans plastic and the pollution that comes from that," a senior administration official said on the call. "[The U.S. and Australia] have significant exclusive economic zones, significant coastlines, so both of us have an interest in collaborating and cooperating on that challenge."