The West is recycling rare earths to escape China’s grip — but it’s not enough

As China tightens its control over the global supply of rare earth minerals, the West is seeking alternatives to reduce dependence on Chinese sources, which dominate the market, controlling 69% of mine production and nearly half of global reserves. The U.S. Department of Defense has invested in recycling initiatives, while companies like Toyota are developing technologies to decrease rare earth usage. Despite these efforts, challenges remain in sourcing and recycling these critical minerals, especially for electric vehicles and defense applications, amidst ongoing trade tensions with China.

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