trade war Against the US, in any moment soon, China can cut off the rare earth metal supply to them. rare earths are used widely in commercial and defense technologies,Some rare earth minerals are also crucial in military equipment by the US, such as for jet engines, missile guidance systems, missile defense systems, satellites,and lasers.
making rare earth metals geopolitically important
According to Reuters.com China supplied 80% of the rare earths imported by the United States from 2014 to 2017.
Companies in the US
Raytheon Co (RTN.N),
Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N)
and BAE Systems (BAES.L) all require the use of rare earth metals to build sophisticated missiles with guidance systems, and sensors.
Measures The U.S. Commerce Department recommended the United States to take alternative options to increase domestic rare earth metal production, warning that Chinese supplies to the US my be disrupted. which include either stockpiling them or start looking for places where they may be processed
The U.S. Defense Department is also asking for federal funds to increase rare earth metal production. And Senators introduced a legislation to encourage the sector’s rare earth metal development. which includes
"To authorize the Office of Fossil Energy to develop advanced separation technologies for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements and minerals from coal and coal byproducts, and for other purposes." (Calendar No.176, S.1052)
the Us can't Rely in their Mountain Pass mine in California,even if
creating 15,000 tonnes annually(as in 2018) , which is still insignificant compared to China, who generates over 120,000 tonnes annually,besides, according to euronews around 80% of the precious metals used by the United States are imported from China.
