How to break China’s chokehold on rare earths
About this episode
The episode discusses the US efforts to reduce its dependence on China's rare earth supply chain amidst ongoing trade tensions.
In the midst of the US-China trade conflict last year, Beijing unsheathed its fiercest weapon. By ramping up restrictions on exports of rare earth metals – crucial elements for high-tech manufacturing – China forced the US to climb down. That show of strength was a wake up call for the US. It has since spent huge sums backing mining companies, penned eye-catching deals and moved to collaborate with allies. But after a little more than a year, how much progress has it made in breaking China’s hold on the rare earths supply chain? Featuring: Abigail Hunter of the SAFE Center for Critical Minerals Strategy; Gracelin Baskaran of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Cory Combs of Trivium China; and FT commodities correspondent Camilla Hodgson. Subscribe to Soumaya's show on Apple , Spotify , Pocket Casts or wherever you listen. Further reading: China and the new era of critical minerals diplomacy Hedge funds raise bets against US-backed critical minerals companies China restricts trading with some US rare earth companies Presented by Soumaya Keynes. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. Original music by Breen…
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