Australia rare earth deal is a good start, but we need production here at home

China’s embargo on exports of key rare earth minerals poses a serious threat to the U.S. economy, defense capabilities, and technological edge. We rely on imports for strategic defense minerals, and China has cornered the market, controlling around 70% of rare earth mining and over 90% of processing and magnet production, which are indispensable for everything from F-35 jets to electric vehicles. As China is America’s chief adversary, it is vital that we break our dependency. This is not merely a good option, but a matter of survival.

President Donald Trump’s pact with Australia on access to rare earth minerals is a positive first step. Partnership between the United States, the world’s second most prolific rare earth mineral producer, and Australia, the world’s fourth largest, puts

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