- The article discusses how the United States, once a leader in rare earth production, inadvertently ceded its competitive advantage to China in the global rare earth race.
- China now controls approximately 90% of the world’s rare-earth refining, a strategic position that significantly impacts global supply chains and technological advancements.
- The decline of U.S. involvement in the rare earth sector is highlighted by the abandonment of the Mountain Pass mine, once a major source of rare earth elements in the United States.
- This shift has resulted in a growing dependence on China for critical materials necessary for the production of various high-tech products, including electronics, renewable energy technologies, and military applications.
- The situation has created potential national security and economic vulnerabilities for the U.S. and its allies, as they rely on China for these essential resources.
- The article underscores the need for strategic policy changes and investments to reduce dependency on China and to revitalize domestic minor earth element production capabilities.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/from-mojave-beijing-how-america-quietly-conceded-rare-earth-race)
