Access to Domestic Reserves Is Best Solution to Rare Earths Dilemma

Emily Goff / November 19, 2010

Following reports of an alleged blockage of shipments of rare earth minerals from China to the U.S. and Europe, Congressman Edward Markey (D–MA) turned to the Obama Administration for clarification and to express his concern. In a letter to the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Commerce, as well as the U.S. Trade Representative, Markey writes:

I am troubled by this recent turn of events and concerned that the world’s reliance on Chinese rare earth materials, in combination with China’s apparent willingness to use this reliance for leverage in wider international affairs, poses a potential threat to American economic and national security interests.

Markey’s remarks come a month after reports that China ceased shipping its rare earths to Japan, which followed the arrest of a Chinese fishing boat captain by Japan near disputed territory. The point to take away from his statement is the real concern about over-reliance on China’s minerals. The appropriate response is to remove the bureaucratic obstacles that make domestic access to rare earths prohibitive. (more…)