LyrArc Article Gist
Washington Post looks at history of rare earths since 1945, and how the US EU and Japan let China become the sole supplier of rare earth minerals. This error is being corrected in 2025 and the US, EU, Japan remain vulnerable for the next 2 years till these countries build up an alternative supply of rare earths. It is a situation where vital national interests in the US and EU, Japan were lost sight of for three decades.

LyrArc Article Gist
US- China trade relations 2025 and XI's rare earth minerals export restrictions response to US tariffs. DJT resonse was 100% tariff on China from 57%. After meeting Xi in Busan, South Korea, after the APEC meetings, US settled on 10% reduction in tariffs from the 57% tariffs on Chinese products down now to 47%. The 100% tariff was withdrawn by DJT and China's Xi settled on withdrawing restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals. The fentanyl tariffs are still in place and the WSJ editorial says not much is likely to happen on fentanyl action by China to stop exports of fentanyl that reach the US through Mexico. China says it will take in soyabeans exports. US signs agreement with Australia to develop alternative supplies of rare earth minerals. The WSJ says for tariffs action to work US should not tariff allies. Yet broad tariffs action was necessary as partners Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the EU, Canada and Mexico were also nations that created an unfair trade situation for the US. The US took action on all nations that take unfair advantage of free trade concepts to benefit them which also add to the credibility of tariffs as effort to restore fairness in world trade.  ...

LyrArc Article Gist
About 53% of the world's lithium is mined in Australia and shipped to China, says this report in the NYT. At the Pilbara mineral mine in rural western Australia the ore is turned into spudomene that is 6% lithium, and is sold at $5700 a ton to China where it is refined into lithium that goes into batteries for EV cars. Australia is changing its mindset to refine more of it in Australia for battery supplies and how and where lithium is exported says this report.