America gave up its rare earth edge. China took full advantage.

The US has lost its edge in rare earth processing due to decades of relying on cheaper imports from China. The country's dependence on China for rare earth processing has become a significant concern for its national security and economic interests. The US had previously been a major producer of rare earth minerals, but its domestic industry declined in the 1980s and 1990s due to cheaper imports from China. As a result, the US is now heavily reliant on China for 80% of its rare earth processing, which is critical for the production of advanced technologies such as electronics, renewable energy systems, and military equipment.