The moves by Apple and the Pentagon are part of a broader U.S. push to nearshore rare earth supply chains. Earlier this year, President Trump proposed annexing Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory estimated to contain $4.4 trillion worth of rare earth reserves. Vice President JD Vance made a surprise visit in support of the plan.

China's rare earth export curbs disrupt India's electric vehicle (EV) ambitions, sparking urgent policy shifts and efforts to reduce dependency through domestic production and alternative sourcing.

Just four months into his tenure at the Pentagon, private equity billionaire Steve Feinberg has landed his first big deal: a $400 million bet on the US’s only miner of rare-earth elements, a key commodity in the rivalry with China.

U.S. efforts to break China's dominance of the rare earths market and to drive investment in its own industry have moved up a gear with a Washington-backed plan to create a separate, higher pricing system.

This comes after China had earlier in April imposed tighter export controls on rare earth magnets — critical components for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and electronics. The move resulted in a sharp drop in global shipments and rising uncertainty across supply chains.

Explore how India is redesigning its electric vehicle powertrains to eliminate dependence on China's rare earths, strengthening its domestic industry and creating a sustainable future for EVs.

Rare earths are key materials for many electric vehicle (EV) parts. China has a dominant position in the global rare earth supply chain with its abundant deposits and high vertical integration. In June 2025, China implemented export controls on some medium and heavy rare earths, triggering a crisis for the global automotive supply chain.

Dust and groundwater contaminated with heavy metals and radioactive chemicals pose a health threat that the authorities have been trying to address for years.

China's exports growth beat expectations in June as businesses continued to divert shipments to non-U.S. markets while shunning the U.S. despite a tariff reprieve.