Trump faces China rare earth dependence as US mining projects lag ahead of Xi Jinping meeting

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, but reducing America's reliance on China for critical minerals remains a challenge. The US has invested billions in mining projects, yet they are years away from producing the materials needed for semiconductors, military equipment and AI. China is the world's largest producer of rare earth minerals, which are crucial for technology, electric vehicles and defence.

Last year, China restricted exports of these minerals, disrupting production at American companies. Despite the Trump administration's efforts to accelerate mining projects, many are still in the planning stages. For instance, a $7.4 billion refinery in Tennessee is expected to open in 2030, while a proposed copper mine in Alaska won't begin operations until 2031.

The US needs to build its own mining and processing industry to decrease dependence on China, but the long lead times and lack of infrastructure make this a difficult task.