Story perspectives

U.S. Rare-Earth Gap Remains; 2027 Chinese Access Considered

7/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

The United States and the Pentagon cannot replace Chinese rare-earth supply by the January 1 2027 deadline.
MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earth are expanding mining and magnet production under Department of Defense contracts.
Company executives told Reuters that U.S. processing and magnet capacity will remain insufficient through early 2027.
Because China dominates refining and magnet production, the Trump administration is weighing extending access to Chinese rare-earth materials after the January 1 2027 cutoff.

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Story summary

The United States and the Pentagon cannot replace Chinese rare-earth supply by the January 1 2027 deadline.
MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earth are expanding mining and magnet production under Department of Defense contracts.
Company executives told Reuters that U.S. processing and magnet capacity will remain insufficient through early 2027.
Because China dominates refining and magnet production, the Trump administration is weighing extending access to Chinese rare-earth materials after the January 1 2027 cutoff.