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Poland and the US are strengthening their cooperation. Ministers have signed an agreement on critical raw materials

30.04.2026

On 30 April 2026, Poland's Chief Geologist Krzysztof Galos and US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker signed a bilateral memorandum of cooperation on critical raw materials between Poland and the United States. The agreement covers the extraction, processing and recycling of critical raw materials, including rare earth metals.

Chief Geologist of Poland Krzysztof Galos and US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker during the ceremony of signing a bilateral memorandum of cooperation on critical raw materials between Poland and the United States. In the photo, the two are exchanging folders with documents. A man stands behind them, and in the background four flags are visible: two American flags on the left and two Polish flags on the right.

Highlights  

  • Poland and the United States have signed a strategic agreement on critical raw materials. 
  • The cooperation aims to build secure supply chains for raw materials that are essential for the energy transition, the development of modern technologies and the strengthening of both countries’ security. 
  • Signed on the sidelines of the 16th Poland–US Strategic Dialogue, the agreement forms part of efforts to build a stable and transparent raw materials market. 

The strategic importance of raw materials  

Critical raw materials are of fundamental importance for the energy and digital transitions, as well as for the development of modern technologies and defence systems. Strengthening cooperation with partners is therefore of key importance for Poland. Establishing raw materials partnerships is also one of the specific objectives of the National Raw Materials Policy. Its priority is to ensure stable and resilient supply chains, diversify sources, and build a transparent market, thereby reducing the risk of access to minerals being used as a tool for political pressure.  

The agreement is a response to the challenges facing global markets for critical raw materials. The document is in line with the government’s objectives, bringing potential mutual economic benefits and enabling the acceleration of economic cooperation between entities from both countries.  

Key areas of cooperation  
Cooperation between the Polish and US governments will include: 

  • Securing supplies of critical raw materials. 
  • Mobilising investment support in the extraction and processing sectors and exploring opportunities to finance joint projects.  
  • Measures to improve the efficiency and coordination of licensing processes for raw materials investments.  
  • Ongoing monitoring of critical raw materials supply chains and the development of modern risk management mechanisms.  
  • Investing in recycling technologies and cooperation in the management of scrap and waste containing rare earth metals.  
  • Cooperation in the field of sustainable deep-sea mining, with a strong focus on environmentally friendly technologies.  
  • Measures to protect the market from non-market policies and unfair trading practices.  
  • Securing new funding for research projects to develop innovative technologies for the separation and processing of raw materials.  
  • Supporting the geological mapping of resources in Poland and the US to diversify supply chains.  

 

Materials

Draft memorandum – English version
Draft​_memorandum​_–​_English​_version.pdf 0.07MB

Photos (1)

Display photo 1 in the gallery. Chief Geologist of Poland Krzysztof Galos and US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker during the ceremony of signing a bilateral memorandum of cooperation on critical raw materials between Poland and the United States. In the photo, the two are signing documents at a table. A man stands behind them, and in the background four flags are visible: two American flags on the left and two Polish flags on the right. On the right side of the photo there is a woman, and on the left a man. There are five people in total in the photo. 
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