US Speeds Up Drive for Rare-Earth Independence

MP Materials, which is partnering with the DOD, views magnet manufacturing as the most urgent issue the United States needs to address.
US Speeds Up Drive for Rare-Earth Independence
The MP Materials mine in Mountain Pass, Calif., in 2024. MP Materials via AP
|Updated:
0:00

Following China’s move to restrict exports of key rare-earth elements in April, the United States is accelerating its push for rare-earth magnet independence. A new public–private partnership between the Department of Defense and MP Materials is expected to move the country significantly toward that goal.

On July 10, MP Materials Corp., the largest domestic rare-earth producer, announced a “transformational” partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD) to “drastically” build out the nation’s rare-earth magnet supply chain.
Wesley Brown
Wesley Brown
Author
Wesley Brown is a long-time business and public policy reporter based in Arkansas. He has written for many print and digital publications across the country.