Rare metals core of China trade talks

Hopefully, American and Chinese leaders' meetings to resolve trade differences will not breakdown and result in a new rift over reciprocal tariffs and export restrictions. Central to those discussions is China's worldwide dominance of rare earth minerals markets.

China currently controls over 60 percent of global rare earth minerals mining and more than 80 percent of refining. Rare earths are important for their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties, allowing products to be lighter, smaller, stronger, and use less energy. They are vital to our nation's defense.

In the la...