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Minerals over ideology? US embraces pragmatic diplomacy to break China’s rare earths grip
Washington under Trump is eager to secure alternative supplies, but Beijing’s dominance appears too strong to break soon, observers say
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The Trump administration’s strategic interest in rare earths is pushing the US towards more pragmatic diplomacy as it seeks to rebuild critical mineral supply chains without China, according to observers.
As a result, there had been cooperation with other countries on resource projects even when broader political ties were strained, they said, adding that Beijing’s dominance in the resources appeared too strong to break soon.
One example is the Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project in South Africa, which recently received US$50 million in equity funding from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the American federal government’s development bank.
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Proposed during the Joe Biden administration in 2023, the deal has advanced despite Donald Trump’s accusations that South Africa is persecuting its white minority, allegations rejected by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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China rebukes US for causing ‘unnecessary panic’ with remarks on rare earth controls
China rebukes US for causing ‘unnecessary panic’ with remarks on rare earth controls
Rainbow Rare Earths, a London-listed mining company helping to develop the deal, said the Phalaborwa project was designed to extract rare earths from mining waste and expected to deliver some highly sought-after minerals.
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