From fighter planes to nuclear reactor rods and smartphones, rare earth minerals are vital to a wide array of products. As geopolitical and trade tensions rise, China’s dominance of both mining and processing means these niche metals have become a cudgel to use against opponents.

China has halted exports of critical minerals and magnets needed to make everything from cars, drones, missiles and semiconductors amid an escalating trade war between the world’s two biggest economies,

Rare earth minerals fuel EVs, jets, and MRIs—but China controls 69% of production and 90% of refining. Can the world break free?