America races time to develop alternatives to rare ground materials China

Rare minerals

The rare ground materials have become a strategic weapon of no less important than electronic chips and energy; This is because these vital materials are at the heart of technological and military industries, from smartphones to missile guidance systems, which makes the great American dependence on China’s imports, including a source of growing concern in the corridors of Washington.

China dominates most of the global supplies of these rare elements, and controls supply and almost monopolistic chains, giving it a tremendous geopolitical influence. With the escalation of commercial and military tensions between the two great powers, the United States fears that Beijing will use this influence as a pressure card in critical moments, which is now driving it to search for effective and sustainable alternatives.

Washington races time to reduce its dependency on China through a multi -axis strategy, including investment in local mining, strengthening partnerships with allies who have metal wealth, and to intensify research to develop industrial alternatives and recycling technologies.

American attempts

In this context, a report by the Washington Post refers to the USA Rare Earth, which he described as part of a “late American attempt”; To re -create a local supply chain for high -performance magnets used in products such as drones, electric vehicles, smartphones, medical devices and military weapons.

The company races time to create a production line, employ dozens of skilled specialists, and set its scientific formulas in preparation for making millions of strong magnets from noodimium, or New Nio, in early 2026.

The report adds:

• The geopolitical risks cause anxiety .. China dominates the market of a group of rare minerals, which are necessary to manufacture magnets, as well as for the same magnets.
• Beijing has practiced this hegemony in recent weeks when American auto manufacturers have deprived the necessary supplies, in an effort to influence trade talks with President Donald Trump.
• After a long period of surrender to China, American companies make their way to restore their position.

But the report indicates that “the introductory stage of the USA Rare Earth company, whose shares have been subjected to public subscription in March, and obstacles to the company’s path reflects a worrying fact, that the United States will take years before it can get rid of its dependence on its main strategic opponent. The federal government must actively participate to make this change.

The report was quoted by the CEO of the company, Joshua Bald, as saying: We have future sources. But the world is going through a difficult stage during the next few years …

Obstacles in front of Washington

The Chinese journalist, Souad Yai Shen Hua, told Sky News Arabia that “the matter is very difficult for the United States regarding the development of alternatives to rare ground materials”, and explains this by saying:

• At the level of resource extraction, environmental laws and high costs are backed by the United States from the rare land elements in the long run.
• As for the treatment stage, China has a complete, mature industrial chain, advanced technologies and extensive experience, while the United States needs huge investments to rebuild this system, as well as its confrontation with the lack of technical competencies and suffocation, which makes it difficult to achieve a breakthrough in the short term.
• In market competition, Chinese products from rare ground elements enjoy low cost and quality stability, which makes American companies prefer to buy Chinese products for economic reasons, which in turn leads to the absence of market support for the rare ground elements industry within the United States.

And she explains that for these reasons, “The United States still has a long way before it can completely dispense with China in this field.”

Chinese controls

A report by “Politico” indicates that at a time when Beijing confirms its presence amid global trade tensions, it plays with a paper that she kept in its possession for decades: controlling the flow of minerals that Western countries strongly need to feed their green, digital and defensive aspirations.

When US President Donald Trump praised two weeks ago, the framework agreement with Beijing to end their trade dispute, specifically referred to the Chinese export controls on seven rare ground elements – minerals considered “decisive” because they are used in the production of high -tech products such as magnet used in cars.

The report quoted the prominent researcher at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Philip Andrews Speed, as saying: “China has the upper hand in the short term,” adding: The export controls imposed by Beijing are “much stronger than the customs duties imposed by Trump.”

These controls – which were initially imposed last April, were presented in response to Trump’s customs duties – anger and anxiety between the heads and officials of industry in the United States and the European Union. These controls are applied to all countries, and companies are required to obtain a license for each shipment.

The Trade Commissioner, Marush Shevchaovic, described earlier this month the situation as “worrying” for the European auto industry, and the industry in general. He added: “The rare ground elements and permanent magnets are very necessary for industrial production,” as magnets are an essential component in everything, from smartphones, televisions and computers, to car engines, wind turbines, and defense applications.

Rare wealth

In turn, the expert of economics and energy in Cairo, Dr. Wafaa Ali, explains to the “Sky News Arabia Economy” website that the first battle will remain between China and the United States of America is rare minerals; Beijing has placed a technical tactic and strict controls on the export of this rare wealth, which made America try to seek alternatives and solutions to these minerals, especially those anti -heat magnets, which represent an important complex for military supply.

She adds: The United States and Europe need a large strategic stock of these rare ground minerals, which mainly contribute to the manufacture of aircraft and smart bombs and almost all advanced military equipment, the most important of which is the samarium metal .. When China has placed restrictions on the export of this underlying metal wealth and the trade war began and even after the negotiations, the rules of Chinese seizure put the United States of America in a great dilemma, the China has 17 metals America rarely depends on China by 80 percent in addition to China’s Central CPU possesses these rare minerals.

Hence the United States is racing against time in an attempt to restart mines capable of producing these minerals, but it does not have the treatment technology to the required extent, so President Donald Trump has coveted his expansion ideas in Ukraine minerals and the Greenland Island, which nature gave about the eighth largest global stock of rare minerals.

Sanad: Rare minerals are the key to commercial understanding between Washington and Beijing