US President Donald Trump has highlighted the geopolitical importance of Lynas Corp’s rare earth business after signing an executive order aimed at reducing America’s dependence on China for the precious minerals that are vital to the electronics and defence sector.
“A strong America cannot be dependent on imports from foreign adversaries for the critical minerals that are increasingly necessary to maintain our economic and military strength in the 21st century,” a White House statement said, quoting President Trump.
In 2019, the White House ordered the Defence Department to spur the production of rare-earth magnets amid concerns that China, which controls more than 80 per cent of the world’s rare earth supply, could restrict exports of the products amid heightened trade tensions.
To read the full article, click here