Trump Tariff List Targets High-Tech Minerals That U.S. Needs
- Rare-earths were the subject of U.S. trade contentions before
- Cobalt for electric vehicles also targeted in U.S. list
Photographer: AFP via Getty Images
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Given the Trump administration’s stated aim of maintaining its advantage in manufacturing prowess over China, there are some curious inclusions on Wednesday’s list of new tariffs.
Among them are rare-earths, an esoteric collection of minerals with strange names (yttrium, praseodymium), high-tech applications and a history of scarcity. They’re used in everything from hybrid vehicles to electronic gadgets and military hardware.