Once again, geopolitics stood center stage this week. While China published March export data on rare earths, U.S. President Donald Trump put critical minerals in the center of attention through an executive order. In the same vein, we shed light onto China’s recent export controls.
China: Rare Earth Exports Rise in March
China’s Customs Authority has released March trade data, revealing a notable increase in rare earth exports by the world’s leading producer. According to the report, China exported 5,666.3 tons of rare earths in March—an increase of approximately 20% compared to the same month last year.
To the article
Raw Material Dependency a Threat to National Security? Trump Orders Probe into Import Reliance
The U.S. government again directs attention to the country’s supply of critical raw materials. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to investigate whether the nation’s heavy reliance on imports of strategically important minerals threatens national security.
To the article
Fact Check: Has China Stopped Rare Earth Exports?
Beijing’s latest export restrictions on rare earths have sparked widespread discussion. We take a closer look at the situation. First things first: this is not a blanket export ban.
To the article
U.S. Eyes Deep-Sea Mining to Bolster Strategic Reserves
According to media reports, the U.S. government plans to enable the stockpiling of critical metals sourced from the Pacific Ocean seabed. Resources such as nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements are intended to supplement the country’s strategic reserves. The move is driven by efforts to reduce dependence on resource giant China.
To the article
