The U.S. is trampling allies in the global hunt for rare earths

Europe’s effort to loosen Beijing’s grip on the materials it needs to rearm has hit an unexpected snag: the deep pockets of the U.S. America is on a global shopping spree outside China to secure critical minerals for jet fighters, tanks and cutting-edge ammunition, while European countries are hunting the same things to counter the threat of Russian aggression.

The U.S. is far outspending Europe, sparking fears that an increasingly protectionist Trump administration will hoard the materials and leave Europeans dependent on China — and more vulnerable to its restrictions.

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