Policy & Geopolitics
Neodymium's chokehold: China’s control of rare-earth processing strains U.S. industry
Neodymium is indispensable for permanent magnets that power motors across vehicles, appliances and turbines, yet most processing that turns ore into usable material occurs in China, exposing U.S. industry to supply and price risk. Washington is moving from signals to concrete tools — stockpiles, milestone‑based finance and allied coordination — but building resilient midstream capacity will take years, large capital outlays and difficult environmental and permitting work.
