All articles tagged with #rare earth minerals
President Trump is initiating a $12 billion strategic stockpile of critical and rare earth minerals, funded by a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank plus private capital, to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese supplies and bolster manufacturing, defense, and tech supply chains, with minerals including cobalt, graphite, silicon, copper, nickel, titanium and lithium.
The Conversation recounts Camp Century, a secret 1959–1966 US Arctic base carved into Greenland’s ice and powered by a nuclear reactor, whose ice cores and history illuminate Greenland’s unexpected strategic importance—now amplified by melting ice that could expose mineral riches—discussed via an interview with geologist Paul Bierman in The Conversation Weekly.
Trump said a Greenland framework with NATO would include rights to rare-earth minerals and linked to a 'Golden Dome' missile defense, but experts say Arctic mining is prohibitively expensive and logistically infeasible, Greenland’s status as a Danish territory poses challenges, and the plan risks straining Greenland–Denmark relations; analysts call the notion more science fiction than feasible policy.
OilPrice argues that U.S. ambitions in Greenland hinge on a broader NATO bargain: secure access to the island’s vast rare-earth reserves while Europe shoulders a bigger defense and subsidy cost. But Greenland’s mining economics are poor, logistics are scarce, and a power grid is non-existent, meaning Europe would need heavy subsidies to make any Arctic mine viable. The push raises questions about ownership versus access, risks to the post-war rules-based order, and whether Washington’s pressure could erode European trust and moral leverage on global security issues, effectively turning Greenland into a volatile liability rather than a stable asset.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticizes China as an unreliable partner and emphasizes the need for the US to reduce dependence on Chinese control of rare earth minerals, amid ongoing trade tensions and a tentative framework deal between the US and China.
A short-term US-China trade agreement has been reached, easing tensions by reducing tariffs, delaying restrictions on rare earth minerals, and promising increased Chinese purchases of US soybeans, with potential implications for TikTok's future ownership and broader economic sectors.
The US and China agreed on a trade truce that temporarily halts some export controls on chips and rare earths, with China deferring its rare earth export restrictions for a year. While the deal eases tensions, uncertainties remain about the rollback of previous controls, especially for the defense sector. Rare earth stocks experienced volatility, and the agreement did not address Taiwan or Nvidia's chip sales in China, indicating a cautious step back from full escalation. The deal reflects ongoing strategic competition and efforts to diversify supply chains.
The US and China have agreed to a one-year delay on expanding trade sanctions and export controls, including halving fentanyl tariffs and resuming soybean imports, as part of a broader détente to ease tensions and work towards future agreements, including TikTok operations.
President Trump signed a rare earth minerals deal with Japan amid ongoing trade discussions with China, signaling a potential shift in international relations and resource strategy.
President Donald Trump is visiting Japan, meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, signing agreements to strengthen US-Japan relations and secure critical minerals amid China’s export restrictions, while also addressing his health with an MRI scan and engaging in diplomatic activities during his Asia tour.
US stock futures rose following an agreement on a trade deal framework between US and Chinese officials, potentially avoiding a significant tariff hike, amid expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut and ongoing trade tensions involving rare-earth minerals and agricultural exports.
The US and China have agreed on a framework for a trade deal, including resolving issues around TikTok's US operations, delaying tariffs on Chinese goods, and resuming soybean purchases, aiming to de-escalate their trade war ahead of a meeting between President Trump and Xi Jinping.
US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed an $8.5 billion agreement on rare earth minerals, with joint investments to boost mining and processing, amid China's export restrictions. Trump also expressed support for the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and signed a critical minerals pact, while an awkward exchange with Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd highlighted tensions.
The G7 countries are working to coordinate a response to China's recent export restrictions on critical minerals, which are vital for green and defense industries, aiming to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on China.
China, under Xi Jinping, has leveraged its dominance in rare-earth minerals to counter US trade measures, signaling a shift in global power dynamics and showcasing China's strategic use of critical resources to assert independence and influence in international affairs.