The United States is unable to replace rare land supplies from China, warns CSIS

Since China imposes export controls on rare ground elements, the United States will not be able to fill in a possible deficiency, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies – this can threaten Washington’s military capabilities.

Amid US President Donald Trump’s tariff for China, Beijing earlier this month Imposing export restrictions On seven rare and magnetic ground elements used in defense, energy and cars technologies.

The new restrictions – which include medium and heavy terrestrial elements, will require samarium, gadolinium, turbium, dysbosium, lottitium, Singldium and YTTRIUM – from Chinese companies to secure special licenses for export of resources.

Although it remains to see exactly how China will implement this policy, CSIS report, published MondayHe warns that it is likely to lead to a stop in exports as Beijing determines the licensing system, and causes disturbances in supply to some American companies.

the New York Times I mentioned earlier this week That a pause in rare ground elements in China was already happening.

Since China is effectively monopolizing the supply of rare global land treatment, these restrictions pose a serious threat to the United States, especially the defense technology sector.

“The United States is particularly vulnerable to these supply chains,” CSIS warned, stressing that rare lands are important for a group of advanced defense technologies and are used in the types of combat aircraft, submarines, missiles, radar systems and drones.

Along with export controls, Beijing has placed 16 American entities – all with the exception of one in the defense and space industries – accordingly Export control list. The position in the menu is prohibited from receiving “dual use”, including the rare ground elements mentioned above.

For example, the Ministry of Defense set a goal to develop a full supply chain of land elements that can meet all US defense needs by 2027 in 2027 2024 Industrial Strategy for National Defense.

Since 2020, DOD has adhered to more than $ 439 million to build local supply chains and rare heavy land processing facilities, according to the data collected by CSIS.

However, CSIS said that by the time when these facilities operate, its production will be inseparable from China, as the United States is still far from achieving the goal of the Ministry of Defense represented in presenting a rare independent ground element.

He added: “The development of mining and processing capabilities requires a long -term effort, which means that the United States will be on its background for the expected future.”

US President Trump was also Searching for a deal with UkraineWhich will give her access to her deposits from rare Earth minerals. but, Questions remain About the value and ease of access to such deposits.

They cite an estimate that China gets advanced weapons and equipment systems faster than five to six times than the United States, He grew up from the US Air Force official In 2022.

The report concluded that “the prohibition of more ban on critical mineral inputs will only expand the gap, which enables China to strengthen its military capabilities more quickly than the United States.”

The United States is not alone in its concerns about China’s monopoly of rare land, with countries like Australia and Brazil Also investing in strengthening rare local land elements supply chains.

CSIS recommends that the United States provide financial and diplomatic support to ensure the success of these initiatives.

However, the new export licensing system in China for rare Earth can motivate countries around the world to cooperate with China to prevent their own supply disturbances of the elements.

A Research report From the Count, the Capital Economics, on Monday, also indicated that the controls on the rare land and critical minerals have become part of the playing book in Beijing in returning to Washington.

The storytelling is noted that in addition to China’s comment on some rare land, the supply of many other critical minerals, including cobalt and albadium, is concentrated in countries that are in line with Beijing.

“The weapons from this control over critical minerals – and the race by other countries to secure alternative supplies – will be a basic feature of a broken global economy,” he said.