US President Donald Trump has hailed his friendship with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during talks at the White House despite an awkward moment when the Australian ambassador's past comments were brought up.

The two leaders signed an agreement on rare earth and critical minerals in front of reporters during what US officials billed as a "bilateral lunch" in the White House cabinet room.

"This is an $8.5 billion pipeline that we have ready to go," Mr Albanese said while signing a deal that Mr Trump added had been negotiated over a period of four or five months.

The agreement involved the processing of minerals, the leaders said.

The prime minister has been joined by Resources Minister Madeleine King and Industry Minister Tim Ayres during his visit to the US.

The US president was ent

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