Category: rare earth

China Considers a Rare Earth Gambit

Commentary Chinese leader Xi Jinping and others among Beijing’s leadership enjoy reminding the world of China’s cultural legacy, particularly how it values patience and takes the long view. A classic illustration comes from a comment by former leader Deng Xiaoping some years ago. When France’s ambassador to China asked him whether he thought the French…


America’s Rare-Earth Elements Conundrum

Commentary The United States is vastly behind the times when it comes to rare-earth elements, and its reluctance to embrace the mining and processing of rare earths has created quite the conundrum. What is rare earth? Often called rare earths, rare-earth minerals, rare-earth metals, and rare-earth elements are the same. The group contains 17 chemical…


Can China Hold America Hostage Over Rare Earth Metals? Three Experts Weigh In

China holds the rare earth supply chain by the throat. Anytime China decides to, it can cut us off, which means no more electronics. We explore the danger of the world’s reliance on exports of rare earth metals that go into cars, radars, appliances, and so much more. Are we at the mercy of the…


Canada Should Take the Lead in Global Critical Minerals Development: Panel

Canada should take the lead in processing rare earth minerals as its allies seek to spread their supply chains out in order to avoid over-reliance on exports from authoritarian countries like China, said a panel of experts. While China holds the lion’s share in providing for the global market of critical minerals and rare earths,…


China Increases Rare Earth Production, Reaching New High in Yearly Quota

China is to boost this year’s quota of rare-earth metal production by 20 percent, to a record high. In recent years, countries such as the United States have been concerned about the threat of the communist regime leveraging its dominance in these essential materials. The country plans to produce 168,000 tons of rare earth in…


US and China Battle for Defense-Critical Rare Earth Metals

Analysis For years, China has undercut other countries in the production and refining of defense-critical rare earth metals, dominating the global market. At present China controls 85 percent of the global supply. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses threats to cut off the supplies of rare earth minerals as a bargaining chip. It did this…


Canadian Chamber of Commerce Urges Federal Parties to Talk Critical Minerals Strategy

WASHINGTON—The Canadian Chamber of Commerce wants federal leaders to get serious about making critical minerals a fundamental part of North America’s economic recovery. The chamber says Canada is missing a “major opportunity” to be a world power in producing the minerals and rare-earth elements that power everything from cellphones to electric cars. It says critical…


Australian Firm Becomes Canada’s First Rare Earth Producer

Australian miner Vital Metals has begun rare earth production in Canada’s Northwest Territories, becoming the first producer in Canada and second in North America. The milestone has strategic significance and comes as democratic nations move to shore up rare earth supply chains independent of China. The Nechalacho project is expected to yield a minimum of 5,000…


QUAD Nations Should Work Out ‘Finer Nuances’ for Coordinating Rare Earth Supply Chain: Noted Scientist

BANGALORE—The Quad countries—the United States, India, Japan, and Australia—recently sought to address their dependence on supply chains for critical technologies that China dominates. The QUAD met virtually for its first leadership summit  on March 12 and decided to convene a coordination group for critical technologies that essentially include artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, quantum, robotics, and…


Australia Rolls Out 10-Year Critical Mineral Plan, as Beijing Looms Over Global Supply

The Morrison government has launched a new national roadmap to boost local processing of critical minerals and resources amid looming concerns over Beijing’s stranglehold on global supply chains. The initiative will also address long-running concerns that Australia is not capitalising on its natural advantage in resources, and has for years, simply exported minerals overseas only…