US reliance on China for critical minerals exposes gaps in domestic policy, supply-chain equity and global governance
Original framing: “US not getting enough critical minerals from China, Greer says as Xi-Trump meeting looms” — South China Morning Post
Scientific assessments indicate that recycling of rare‑earth elements could meet up to 30 % of projected demand by 2035 if proper collection and processing infrastructure is built. Life‑cycle analyses also show that domestic mining, when coupled with strict environmental controls, can have a lower carbon footprint than imported ore processed under lax regulations. Robust data are essential for policy decisions that move beyond anecdotal supply‑shortage claims.
The shortage of critical minerals is not a simple supply‑gap caused by China; it is the symptom of a fragmented policy landscape, historic reliance on extractive geopolitics, and the exclusion of Indigenous, scientific, and marginalised knowledge.
By integrating Indigenous stewardship, robust scientific recycling, and equitable multilateral agreements, the United States can transform vulnerability into resilience. Historical precedents warn that concentration of supply invites strategic risk, while future modelling shows that diversified, circular pathways dramatically lower that risk. Implementing coordinated reforms—spanning domestic mining safeguards, recycling incentives, and transparent international partnerships—will align economic security with environmental justice and cultural respect.