US-China Trade War:

US Court Defeat

Explainer

Why Rare Earths Are China’s Trump Card in Trade War With US

Annealed neodymium iron boron magnets sit in a barrel prior to being crushed into powder. — Annealed neodymium iron boron magnets sit in a barrel prior to being crushed into powder.Doug Kanter/Bloomberg

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June 12, 2025 at 9:03 AM UTC

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Rare earths are among the most critical raw materials on the planet, deeply embedded in the technologies that underpin modern life. Yet few people have heard of them or know what they do.