‘Reduce reliance’: Can US and Europe break free from China’s rare earth grip?

Rare earths are needed for everything from consumer electronics to electric vehicles, wind turbines and fighter jets – and China controls the supply chain. In the last of a four-part series, we look at how countries are looking for alternatives that could help reduce their reliance on China.

Seventy years ago, the US was the world’s leading producer of rare earth magnets. But by the start of this century, the country’s last producers of the most powerful commercial magnets were being sold off, locking in Beijing’s dominance over this critical market.