Why the Rare Earths Weapon Is Losing Its Force

Not-so rare earths.
Not-so rare earths. Source: AFP/Getty Images
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Every time China tightens its grip on rare earths, the rest of the world becomes a little better at finding them.

Rare-earth permanent magnets — which help stick charging cables to laptops, clamp mobile phones to mounting devices, and click earbuds into their cases — have become a central battleground in China’s trade wars with its rivals. Beijing used export controls on the devices to force US President Donald Trump into a humiliating retreat on his Liberation Day tariffs last year. The same tactic is being deployed against Japan following a diplomatic spat with Tokyo. 

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