Hijazi reported in 2020 that despite the trade war with China and the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the United States of America (U.S) faces the continuous problem of resource dependence and resource insecurity of its processed Rare Earth mineral supply chain. The latter problem arises for three reasons: First,
is the import reliance on Chinese processed Rare Earth supply to the United States. Second, is the negligence of the U.S in developing its own mining sector. Third, is the disconnect between mineral strategy and policy. The aim of this brief to shed an understanding on the current U.S capacity to refine Rare Earths, and to provide recommendations to achieve a sustainable industry.
Are Rare Earths rare? No. These elements found in minerals are abundant, difficult to obtain and undergo chemical separation numerous times to achieve the product in the purest form. There are seventeen different types of Rare Earth Elements (REE). The most current mineable deposits economically extracted come from China.
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The author concluded that There is no shortage of opportunities for the United States not to develop its domestic capability in processing minerals that contain trace elements of Rare Earths. Accordingly, U.S policymakers should consider the following:
• The U.S should focus on resource security of Rare Earth Elements and not resource dependence. Even if resource independence is achieved, security of refined Rare Earths is still vulnerable because the domestic capacity and supply chain doesn’t exist.
• U.S policies & strategies of the mining industry and other critical sectors such as Energy, Defense & Manufacturing should be under one national strategy. This facilitates the formation of a clear and transparent regulatory framework for the U.S economy and mining sector.
• The United States should not concentrate all processing facilities of Rare Earths in one state or site. Alternative locations across the U.S could reduce supply disruptions. An economic feasibility study and further research is required for future consideration.
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