America's Rush to Catch Up in the Rare Earth Race

In the vast Mojave Desert, the Mountain Pass mine might look like any other barren landscape, but it holds a crucial piece of America's past and future. This mine was once the world's top supplier of rare earth elements, essential for modern tech and military tech. Back in the 1980s, it provided nearly two-thirds of the global demand for these vital materials. However, as environmental regulations tightened and China flooded the market with cheaper products, the U. S. lost its edge. China saw the potential in rare earth elements early on. Deng Xiaoping famously said, "The Middle East has oil; China has rare earths. " This foresight paid off, as China now controls about 70% of global rare earth mining and nearly 90% of refining. Meanwhile, the U. S. struggled with policy debates and environmental concerns, falling behind in the race. The U. S. didn't just lose in mining; it also gave away key technologies. In the early 1990s, a GM subsidiary called Magnaquench produced most of the magnets used in precision-guided missiles. When GM sold this company to a consortium including Chinese entities, the U. S. lost its magnet-making process almost overnight. This sale was more than a bad deal; it was a strategic mistake. While the U. S. hesitated, China invested heavily in innovation, refining, and manufacturing. By the early 2000s, the U. S. mining and refining base had collapsed. China not only mined the minerals but also mastered the high-value steps to turn them into finished products. Rare earth elements are now crucial for nearly every modern weapons system, from steering missiles to powering radar and night-vision goggles. A wake-up call came this spring when China briefly restricted exports of rare earth products. This move disrupted supply chains and forced the U. S. to take action. The federal government backed an entire supply chain, from mine to magnet, using grants, loans, and price supports. MP Materials resumed mining in California and is building a magnet plant in Texas, while another U. S. manufacturer in South Carolina has started producing magnets. However, rebuilding the ecosystem will take time. The Trump administration has been pushing to decouple from China, signing multi-billion dollar partnerships across five continents. These deals aim to cut Beijing out of key supply chains and secure non-Chinese refining and magnet production. However, officials warn that true security will depend on what happens at home. The Pentagon must build a fully domestic rare earth supply chain by 2027, avoiding Chinese inputs entirely. This goal requires breaking through America's own permitting gridlock, financing new refineries, and rebuilding a skilled workforce. Both experts and officials see the next few years as decisive. The same materials that once powered America's Cold War innovation now underpin China's economic and military strength. The U. S. must reform permitting processes and invest in domestic production to avoid relying on imports. Companies are working to unlock bottlenecks, but the longer the U. S. waits, the harder it will be to catch up. In the Mojave Desert, the trucks at Mountain Pass are running again, symbolizing a nation trying to reclaim what it lost. However, as China tightens its grip on these vital minerals, America's comeback in the resource race is only just beginning.