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US and allies seek alternatives to China for rare earth supply chains
The push follows China’s export controls, which triggered supply scrambles and factory shutdowns, with Japan still facing shortages even after a temporary October US-China truce resumed exports.
The United States is working with allies to reduce reliance on China for rare earths and other critical minerals used in technologies tied to artificial intelligence, according to an interview with Jacob Helberg, the US undersecretary of state for economic affairs, published by the South China Morning Post.
Helberg said US partners were alerted by China’s export controls on minerals, which he said caused serious disruptions. He pointed to a scramble for supplies and factory shutdowns across developed economies, including the United States.
The outlet also reported that although a temporary US-China truce in October resumed exports, some countries such as Japan have continued to experience shortages.
The renewed emphasis on securing alternative mineral supply chains came as President Donald Trump signed a military supply chain executive order on Monday, with a senior administration official describing the critical-minerals dependence concern as already clear to allies before the order.