Why Trump Can't Afford to Lose The Rare Earth Race

AI Summary

The article argues that expanding production capacity, rather than finding substitutes, is the immediate challenge in the race to secure rare-earth supplies. It frames the issue as a strategic contest for Donald Trump and the West, as manufacturers seek reliable access to critical minerals amid Chinese export controls.

For years, the West has searched for a technological escape hatch from rare earths. Engineers have developed new motor designs, alternative magnet chemistries, and materials that reduce or even eliminate the need for some critical minerals. Every time China tightens export controls, those efforts receive another burst of attention. They're worth pursuing. But they don't answer the question manufacturers have to solve today. Production capacity has become the number one scarce asset. That realization is driving one of the most ambitious industrial…