AFR Sunday (extract): ‘…. The United States government...

AFR Sunday (extract):
‘….
The United States government financier, Reta Jo Lewis, said the one-stop shop will help Australian critical minerals producers and US companies access support from both countries.

This arrangement is the first of its kind, said Ms Lewis, chairwoman of the US Export Import Bank, who was in Sydney last week to formalise the cooperation agreement with Australia’s government banker, John Hopkins, who leads Export Finance Australia. “The single point of entry is a new approach for us,” Ms Lewis said. “It means that Australian and US critical minerals businesses may now approach US ExIm or EFA and receive streamlined access to both agencies’ financing support. “This gives a potential borrower the ability to have a joint commitment from any entity, both of our entities. It gives us an ability to collaborate on any number of projects, up to our own and each, capacity.”…

….The move to streamline funding between the US and Australian government lenders is part of a push to counter China’s market dominance. As such, Australia’s critical minerals producers have typically been funded by Chinese customers.’