(Jan 29): The United States and El Salvador signed an agreement on Thursday aimed at encouraging investment in the exploration and export of critical minerals, which US President Donald Trump has described as essential to economic and national security. The deal signed in Washington would allow US companies to operate across the critical-minerals supply chain in El Salvador. Bukele has highlighted the presence in El Salvador of minerals such as rhenium and silicon, recently added to an expanded US list of critical minerals that guides Washington's priorities for clean energy, defence and manufacturing. The agreement also commits El Salvador to cooperating with US sanctions and export controls and on defence-related trade. El Salvador already has duty-free access for many goods under the CAFTA-DR agreement, which includes the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic.

Source: The Edge Markets January 30, 2026 03:44 UTC