Strong U.S. Refining Chain Critical to Break China’s Control of Rare Earths

The United States is striving to lessen its dependence on China for critical minerals and rare earth elements, but progress has been slow. The Trump Administration has prioritized American production and refining of these resources, aiming to secure the supply chain for key industries like technology and defense. However, China’s dominance in minerals processing and magnet production remains a significant challenge for the U.S. Building a domestic refining supply chain to rival China will require substantial investment and time. The U.S. faces an uphill battle in closing the gap with China’s established infrastructure and lower costs, but efforts are underway to boost refining capacity and competitiveness.