America Didn’t Lose Its Rare Earth Industry. It Sold It.

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   US Accelerates Rare Earth Supply Chain Amid Chinese Dominance

   The United States is racing to rebuild its rare earth supply chain as China tightens controls over essential minerals. China currently maintains a geopolitical chokepoint, controlling over 90% of global rare earth refining and nearly 99% of heavy rare earths. While the US seeks to reduce this dependence through new exploration and alternative ores like monazite and heavy mineral sands, the transition is hindered by a history of selling off industry capacity. President Donald Trump has recently announced that massive mineral, oil, and gas exploration is set to begin in Greenland.

   Why it matters

   Rare earth elements are critical for advanced technology and defense systems. China uses its market dominance to price for control rather than cost, creating an asymmetric risk for Western nations. The US faces a defense deadline in 2027 to secure these supply chains.

   What is confirmed

   • China controls over 90% of global rare earth refining and nearly 99% of heavy rare earths.
   • The United States is working to establish a rare earth supply chain as China increases controls.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The US sold its rare earth industry rather than losing it.

   What to watch next

   • Progress toward the 2027 defense deadline for supply chain security
   • Results of the announced mineral exploration in Greenland
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. Lawfare — America Didn’t Lose Its Rare Earth Industry. It Sold It.
   2. VOA - Voice of America English News — US races to build rare earth supply chain as China tightens controls
   3. Rare Earth Exchanges — REEx Supply Chain Rankings 2027 Defense Deadline Risks
   4. Global Mining Review — Mining news and industry magazine
   5. Simply Wall Street — Top 3 Rare Earth Stocks To Watch In October 2026
   6. help.naver.com — Futures Flat As Oil Rebounds After Trump's "Energy Ceasefire" Unravels, Memory Stocks Slide | ZeroHedge
   7. fortune.com — Hachette’s CEO says AI shortcuts are creating a ‘worse C-suite'
   8. www.theepochtimes.com — North Korea Launches Multiple Missiles Days After South Korean Hypersonic Weapon Test | The Epoch Times
   9. www.lawfaremedia.org — America Didn’t Lose Its Rare Earth Industry. It Sold It.
   10. Foreign Policy — Monazite Is the Radioactive Ore That Could Break China’s Grip on Rare Earths
   11. IEEE Spectrum — Heavy Mineral Sands Are Quietly Rewriting Rare Earth Supply Chains
   12. The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine — China’s Rare Earth Strategy and the Future of the South China Sea
   confidence 80%