James Litinsky, executive chairman of MP Materials, underscored the urgency: “Drones and robotics are widely considered the future of warfare… and the critical inputs for our future supply chain are shut down.”
Beijing’s ‘Trump’ card in escalating trade war
Trump has defended the tariffs, saying they are necessary to correct trade imbalances with China. He has also hinted at targeting semiconductors and electronic devices next. His commerce secretary confirmed smartphones and laptops could be included in upcoming rounds.
China, meanwhile, is flexing its dominance in rare earths as a form of economic retaliation. With nearly total control over global supply, Beijing can tighten or sever access whenever it chooses.