Trump and Albanese to discuss key minerals and defense at first White House meeting

President Donald Trump is formally meeting with the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the first time at the White House on Monday. Australia holds critical reserves of minerals that could be used in the United States trade war with China, such as lithium, antimony, silicon, palladium and iridium. Lithium is essential for EV batteries, antimony and silicon are used in solar panels. As of right now, China is Australia's largest trade partner. On Friday, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said “We know that American companies desperately need critical minerals, and Australia is very well placed to service that need,” after…