Buried Leverage: Economic Risks of Dependency on Critical Minerals, Rare Earths
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Buried Leverage: Economic Risks of Dependency on Critical Minerals, Rare Earths

08 May 2025 / Report

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Critical and rare earth minerals are essential for the defense, electronics, and renewable energy industries. Despite the US having large deposits of such resources underground, mining is rare and nearly all processing occurs in China—creating serious national security and economic concerns. This report, as part of a larger series on critical minerals, provides an introduction to the main issues that are relevant for US businesses.

Critical and rare earth minerals are essential for the defense, electronics, and renewable energy industries. Despite the US having large deposits of such resources underground, mining is rare and nearly all processing occurs in China—creating serious national security and economic concerns. This report, as part of a larger series on critical minerals, provides an introduction to the main issues that are relevant for US businesses.

Authors

Erin McLaughlin

Erin McLaughlin Erin McLaughlin

Senior Economist, ESF Center
The Conference Board

Read Bio

Alexander Heil, PhD

Alexander Heil, PhD Alexander Heil, PhD

Senior Economist
The Conference Board

Read Bio

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