The American rare earths company seeking to topple China's dominance | 60 Minutes

The Trump administration is partnering with a U.S. rare earth company to reduce American dependence on Chinese supplies of these critical metals. Rare earth elements are essential components in smartphones, robotics, fighter jets, and drones—technologies central to both commercial and military applications. China currently dominates global rare earth production and processing, giving it significant leverage over supply chains for advanced technology and defense systems. The effort reflects broader Trump administration priorities to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, particularly from strategic competitors. Success would require the U.S. company to develop competitive extraction, processing, and manufacturing capabilities that can match or undercut Chinese production.