#328Rare Earths Are China’s Trump Card In The Trade War

United States' efforts to establish a domestic rare earth supply chain, driven by increasing geopolitical tensions and dependency on China. Rare earth elements are crucial for modern technologies, from electric vehicles to defense equipment, and China currently dominates their mining and processing due to lower costs and weaker environmental standards. The U.S. is investing significantly in companies like MP Materials and Energy Fuels to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on China's near-monopoly. Despite these investments and the exploration of alternative sources like recycling, experts caution that complete independence from China's rare earth supply chain, particularly for finished magnets and specialized labor, remains a long-term challenge due to China's entrenched market control and the increasing global demand