Bullets:
Last November, President Trump predicted that China’s monopolies over rare earth metals would end, within eighteen months to two years.
But nearly a year later, analysts conclude that some progress is being made on light rare earths, yet not nearly fast enough to change much until 2030.
In the case of the heavy rare earth elements, however, China’s dominance will last at least another decade, and will cost over a trillion dollars to close.
It is the heavy rare earths that are urgently sought by weapons makers and manufacturing.
China has strict export bans of rare earth metals and magnets for military applications.
Closing scene, Dazhu Mountain, Qingdao, Shandong
Resources and links:
US Could End China Dependency on Rare Earths Within 18 Months, Trump Says
https://www.ntd.com/trump-says-us-rare-earths-emergency-program-will-end-china-dependency-within-18-months/_1105464.html
The American rare earths company seeking to topple China’s dominance | 60 Minutes
The $40 Billion Minerals Gamble: Can Trump Break China’s Chokehold Before The West’s Rearmament Hits A Wall?
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/40-billion-minerals-gamble-can-trump-break-chinas-chokehold-wests-rearmament-hits-wall
US Needs Another Decade to Fix $1.2 Trillion Rare Earth Crisis
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-us-china-heavy-rare-earth-magnets-defense/
US Expands Search for Critical-Mineral Projects for Defense Gear
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-24/us-expands-search-for-critical-mineral-projects-for-defense-gear
China’s rare-earth mineral squeeze will hit the Pentagon hard
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/04/chinas-rare-earth-mineral-squeeze-will-hit-pentagon-hard/404776/
Pentagon rare earth push collides with China’s grip
https://www.mining.com/pentagon-rare-earth-push-collides-with-chinas-grip/
Why Google, Amazon and Microsoft Need Chinese Data Center Suppliers
https://www.theinformation.com/newsletters/ai-infrastructure/google-amazon-microsoft-need-chinese-data-center-suppliers
China’s control over indium phosphide exports threatens AI data centre rollout
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-control-over-indium-phosphide-exports-threatens-ai-data-centre-rollout-2026-06-11/
China targets US rare earth and other firms with export controls
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-targets-us-rare-earth-other-firms-with-export-controls-2026-06-22/
China targets US rare earth and other firms with export controls
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-targets-us-rare-earth-other-firms-with-export-controls-2026-06-22/
MP Materials, About Us
https://mpmaterials.com/leadership/michael-rosenthal/
The Rare Earths trade war just got complicated: Chinese industries need them here
US rare earth investments, price floors aim to challenge China’s market grip
https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/metals/052926-us-rare-earth-price-floors-aim-to-challenge-chinas-market-grip
Chart: Global clean energy manufacturing, by the numbers
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy-manufacturing/chart-global-clean-energy-manufacturing-by-the-numbers
Best Global Universities for Chemistry
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/chemistry
China took over another $5 trillion industry, and Europe is moving money and jobs
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