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Workers who transport the soil containing elements of rare land for export to Port to Lionung, Jiangsu province, China, October 31, 2010.
Stringer | Reuters
As China imposes export control on rare land elements, the US will not be able to fill the potential drawback, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies – and it may threaten Washington’s military capabilities.
Among US President Donald Trump on Escalation Tariffs on China, Beijing earlier this month Imposed restrictions on export On seven rare elements and magnets used in defense, energy and automotive technologies.
New restrictions – covering the elements of medium and heavy rare land Samaria, Gadalini, Terbium, Disproys, Lutetyum, Scandium and Yttrium – will require Chinese companies to provide special licenses for resources.
Although you still have to learn exactly how China will implement this policy, CSIS report published on MondayIt warns that this will probably lead to an export pause because Beijing sets a licensing system and causes supplies for some US companies.
A New York Times reported earlier this week What a pause in the export of rare land in China has already taken place.
As China effectively contains monopoly about the delivery of global processing of rare lands, such restrictions pose a serious threat to the United States, especially in the defense technology sector.
“The United States is particularly vulnerable to these supply networks,” CSIS warned, emphasizing that rare land is crucial for a number of advanced defense technologies and are used in types of fighters, submarines, missiles, radar systems and drones.
Along with export control, Beijing posted 16 US organizations – all but one in defense and aerospace industry – on it List Export Management. Location in the list hinders companies to receive “double use”, including the above elements of rare land.
Not ready to fill in the blank
According to the CSIS report, if the trade control in China will lead to complete disconnecting the export elements of medium and heavy rare land, the US will not be able to fill the gap.
“Currently, the US does not divide rare land,” CSIS said, although he noted that these opportunities are being developed.
For example, the Ministry of Defense has set a goal to develop a full network of rare land supplies, which can meet all US protection needs by 2027 2024 National Protection of Industrial Strategy.
Since 2020, DOD has made more than $ 439 million for the construction of domestic supplies and large rare earthen objects, according to CSIS.
However, CSIS stated that as long as these facilities will work, their production will not be enough from China, and the US is still far from reaching the DOD Independent Earth DOD.
“Development of mining and processing capabilities require long-term effort, which means that the US will be on the back of the foreseeable future,” it added.
US President Trump also was I am looking for an agreement with UkraineWhat would give him access to his rare land minerals. However, Questions remain About the value and availability of such deposits.
Consequences
The CSIS report warns that exports manages direct threats to the US military readiness, emphasizing that the country is already behind its defense.
“Even before the recent restrictions in the US, the defense industrial base fought with limited capacity and lacked the possibility of scale production to meet the requirements of defense technology,” the authors said.
They refer to the estimate that China is acquiring advanced weapons and equipment systems five times faster than in the US, Comes from the US Air Force official In 2022.
“Further prohibitions on critical contributions of minerals will only expand the gap, allowing China to strengthen its military capabilities faster than the US,” the reports are.
The US does not remain alone in the concern of China’s monopoly on rare land, with countries such as Australia and Brazil Also investment in strengthening household elements of rare land.
CSIS recommends that the US provide financial and diplomatic support to ensure the success of these initiatives.
However, the new export licensing system in China for rare land can also encourage countries around the world to cooperate with China to prevent violations of its own items, CSIS said.
A A study report On Monday, Neil Schering, Chief Economist of the Capital Economics, also noted how control over rare earth and critical minerals became part of Beijing’s book in repulsion to Washington.
Gray notes that in addition to the content of China on some rare lands, supplies of many other important minerals, including cobalt and pallada, is concentrated in countries that correspond to Beijing.
“The weapons of this control over critical minerals – and the race other countries to ensure alternative supplies will be the main feature of the world economy,” he said.
