US and Asia Forge New Deals to Reshape Rare Earth and Critical Minerals Supply Chains

US President Trump has signed multiple deals with Asian countries to diversify and reduce dependence on China's dominance in the rare earths sector, crucial for modern manufacturing. While these agreements mark a strategic shift, building new processing capacity outside China is costly and time-consuming, and China's control over processing remains significant. The efforts are a step in the ongoing US-China rivalry, but overcoming China's entrenched position will require years of investment and regulatory challenges.