Pentagon’s ‘Deal Team Six’ Aims to Challenge China’s Grip on Rare Earth Power

From an office a few blocks from the White House, a group of former Wall Streeters is at the forefront of the Pentagon’s plan to crack China’s critical-minerals stranglehold.

Their goal is to create an independent source for the rare earth elements and magnets used in everything from microwave ovens to missiles. They want to prevent a repeat of last year, when President Donald Trump was forced to back down in his trade war after China cut off supplies.