The U.S. Is Trampling Allies in the Global Hunt for Rare Earths

The U.S. is outspending Europe in securing critical minerals outside China, allocating roughly $46 billion for critical raw-material projects in the five years to February, compared to about eight times less by the European Union.

European rearmament efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earths are hindered by U.S. competition for the same materials, with the Trump administration pursuing protectionist policies.

The U.S. is granting preferential access to mineral wealth in war-torn countries and acquiring producers or signing purchase deals, while European countries fear being left dependent on China.

Beijing restricted rare-earth magnet supplies last year during a trade fight with the U.S., intensifying the scramble for alternatives among Western governments.

The U.S. Defense Department has ordered contractors to remove Chinese rare earths from supply chains for magnets by next year.