Miners and the Albanese government believe Australian resources projects will get more favourable access to the US market after President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into critical minerals imports, putting Chinese producers under threat of future tariffs.

Trump on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) fired the latest shot in his trade war, issuing an executive order seeking to snap America’s dependency on China and other foreign producers for critical minerals and rare earths vital for modern consumer, commercial and military technology, as well as the green energy transition.