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The September 10 framework creates no binding legal obligations for either government — Dominican reporting confirms it functions as a roadmap, and it's one of at least 27 similar frameworks Washington has signed worldwide.
- Correcting an earlier account of this story: both the 100-million-ton and revised 150-million-ton rare-earth estimates for Pedernales came from President Abinader himself, a year apart, not from two officials citing conflicting figures.
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A feasibility study to confirm whether the Ávila deposit is commercially minable isn't due until 2027, and the country's entire current mining workforce — 7,332 direct jobs — predates any rare-earths production.
The Dominican Republic and the United States signed a critical minerals and rare earths cooperation framework on September 10, and the fine print carries no dollar figure, no mandated investment, and no enforceable obligation for either government.
