China has enacted new export controls on seven rare earth minerals starting April 4, in retaliation for U.S. tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. The move targets critical materials essential to advanced American technologies, including F-35 jets and electric vehicles. Experts say China is leveraging its dominance in rare earths to exert geopolitical pressure. In response, U.S. firms like USA Rare Earth and Phoenix Tailings are working to build domestic alternatives. The Department of Defense has already invested over $439 million since 2020 to secure the U.S. supply chain.
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