Rare Earths

US rare earths are being sold to Japan and South Korea despite efforts to build a domestic supply chain. Miners supported by the Trump administration are prioritizing Asian markets over domestic demand.

The article highlights growing global interest in Brazil's rare earth resources and questions whether the Brazilian government is prepared to capitalize on this demand.

The European Union and China agreed to establish a Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism to address growing commercial tensions and the EU's trade deficit. The platform will focus on trade balancing, export controls, intellectual property, and WTO reform, with a working group to monitor trade flows and prevent destabilizing import spikes.

An expert from China’s top state-affiliated think tank warns that deep-seated structural rivalry and regulatory barriers will limit a durable improvement in China-US ties, despite a temporary stabilization from last month’s leaders’ summit. The discussion highlights concerns over AI and rare earths as critical areas of fragility in the bilateral relationship.

The U.S. Navy's Columbia-class submarines, set to replace Ohio-class vessels by the 2030s and 2040s, rely heavily on rare earths refined in China for their propulsion, stealth, and strike capabilities, creating a critical vulnerability. These submarines use electric motors and advanced technology that depend on materials China dominates in refining.

Japan reports China detained two of its citizens suspected of smuggling banned items, potentially linked to rare earths. Chinese authorities confirmed the detentions but provided no details, while Japanese officials emphasized privacy and ongoing investigations. The case adds to strained bilateral relations, which have been affected by previous disputes over exports and espionage charges.

Petrobras, Brazil's oil company, has partnered with the state development bank to research critical minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earths. The move marks a shift into battery metals and materials essential for wind turbines and electronics.

China imposed export restrictions on 10 US companies, including two rare-earths firms backed by Washington, blocking dual-use equipment for military use. Rare earths tensions escalated after China's prior restrictions in response to Trump's tariffs, with the US seeking new sources but experts warning reliance reduction will take years.

China's commerce ministry sanctioned 10 US tech companies, blocking exports of dual-use items to the US, including drone makers and rare earths firms. This follows the Pentagon's recent restrictions on Chinese companies.

Kenya is close to a deal with the US to process its rare earths and strategic minerals at home, as announced by President Ruto at the G7 summit. The agreement aims to enable Kenya to process these critical minerals domestically.

Japan is pushing G7 nations to establish a floor price mechanism to counter China's export controls on rare earths, as discussed at the G7 Evian Summit in France by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The G7 nations agreed to limit China's supply of rare earths and permanent magnets to no more than 60% by 2030, aiming for a 50% cap as quickly as possible. European leaders also faced challenges in unifying their response to an influx of low-cost Chinese imports.

The Pentagon has secured $1.2 billion in loans for rare earth minerals, including germanium and gallium, critical for scaling weapons production. Michael Cadenazzi, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, emphasized the necessity of these materials for defense capabilities.

The G7 aims to limit China's supply of rare earths to no more than 60%. A Rare Earth Industrial Park is under construction in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, China.

Renault has developed electric motors that do not use rare earth materials. The article highlights this innovation in energy and powertrains, focusing on the company's advancements in electric vehicle technology.

The US-China post-summit detente is shifting to institutional frameworks, with the US Trade Representative seeking tariff relief for non-sensitive Chinese goods and proposing Section 301 duties on imports from 60 countries, including China. The USTR also launched a new US-China Board of Trade to evaluate potential tariff reductions.

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič advocates for a new diversification instrument to reduce European industry's reliance on single suppliers in critical sectors like microchips and rare earths. He references the Energy Union model and emphasizes securing three different suppliers for critical materials, citing China's export restrictions and the EU's over 90% dependency on China for rare earths as key challenges.

EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič advocates for a new 'diversification instrument' to reduce reliance on China in critical sectors like chips and rare earths. He references the Energy Union model and highlights vulnerabilities exposed by China's export controls, with EU leaders planning to address China's industrial overcapacity at a June summit.

A race to mine rare earths and metals in Myanmar's eastern mountains is polluting waterways used by millions downstream, following the start of operations at a new tungsten mine near the Thai border. Myanmar ranks among the top three producers of rare earths and critical minerals essential for electronics and electric vehicles.

India and the US signed a framework agreement to secure critical minerals and rare earths, aiming to position India as an alternative to China. However, analysts suggest India's dominance in the sector is unlikely to challenge China's control soon.

EU leaders fear cheap Chinese exports, but the article argues they should be more concerned about embedded spyware and dependency on rare earths. The focus is on misplaced concerns versus real security and resource risks.

The race for rare earths has raised concerns about environmental damage. Companies aiming to increase Western supplies face legal and community obstacles.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will warn at the Reagan National Economic Forum that U.S. industrial policy has prioritized efficiency over resilience, creating strategic vulnerabilities in semiconductors, rare earths, and medicines.

The White House approved a $620 million loan to a rare earths startup linked to Donald Trump Jr., with defense officials and the company downplaying allegations of cronyism. The deal has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and political influence in defense contracting.

A surge in U.S. stock market listings by mining firms, particularly Canadian and Australian companies, reflects growing defense-driven demand for critical minerals like tungsten, rare earths, and antimony. These firms are explicitly targeting military applications, securing Pentagon contracts and funding to reduce reliance on China's supply chains.

Following a Trump-Xi summit, analysts have examined the readouts issued by both the U.S. and China, identifying minor inconsistencies on agriculture, tariffs, and rare earths. However, experts contend that these differences are not substantively significant.

Following a Trump-Xi summit, analysts have identified minor inconsistencies between U.S. and Chinese official readouts on agriculture, tariffs, and rare earths. However, experts suggest these differences are not substantive and do not significantly impact the bilateral relationship.

The European Union has selected tungsten, rare earths, and gallium for its first joint critical mineral stockpile to reduce dependence on China. The EU is negotiating with major ports, including Rotterdam in the Netherlands, to store these minerals as part of efforts to insulate its economy from Beijing's production dominance.

Donald Trump has left China with a new focus on trade and rare earths. The trip has highlighted the importance of rare earths in the ongoing trade tensions. Trump's visit comes as the US seeks to reduce its reliance on Chinese exports.

China has a strong position in the trade war due to its control of rare earths, including neodymium iron boron magnets. These materials are crucial for various industries. China's dominance in rare earths gives it a significant advantage.

Trump faces significant leverage disadvantage in negotiations with China over rare earth exports, as the US has no immediate alternatives to Chinese rare earth supplies despite aggressive domestic industrial policy efforts. The Trump administration is pushing for an extension of China's export moratorium on rare earths like yttrium and dysprosium, but lacks comparable leverage on fossil fuels that China doesn't urgently need.

China has a strong grip on rare earths, making it hard for other countries to break into the market. Rare earths are crucial for technology and other industries. China's dominance in this sector gives it significant economic and political leverage.

The U.S. previously dominated rare earth production but lost its position to China due to cost-cutting and strategic investments by Chinese companies. Planet Money details how China's aggressive tactics, including subsidies and environmental leniency, eroded American competitiveness in the rare earth market.

The US and EU have reached a deal to reduce China's dominance in critical minerals. MP Materials, America's only rare earths producer, currently sends its Mountain Pass mine output to China due to global refining capacity shortages.

Serra Verde is increasing production of scarce rare earths following a deal with the US. The move aims to address global shortages and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals.

Chinese rare earth companies saw stock price increases following a quarterly price hike in neodymium. China's dominance in rare earths, prioritized since Deng Xiaoping's era, has significant global trade and U.S. national security implications.

Modi hosted Min Aung Hlaing, and the two leaders agreed to foster ties in minerals and rare earths. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration in these resource sectors.

Japan plans to develop a deep-sea drone to locate rare earth minerals. The initiative focuses on advancing technology for underwater resource exploration.