{
  "id": 4465158,
  "title": "The Guardian view on rare earths: it’s common sense to secure essential supply chains | Editorial",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/the-guardian-view-on-rare-earths-its-common-sense-to-secure-essential-4465158",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-30T16:30:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/30/the-guardian-view-on-rare-earths-its-common-sense-to-secure-essential-supply-chains"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The rare earths industry has been largely outsourced to China, raising concerns about the security of essential supply chains. This issue came to light in 2010 when China blocked exports of critical rare earths to Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea. Rare earth elements are crucial for a wide range of modern technologies, including advanced weaponry, iPhones, electric vehicle batteries, and wind turbines. As a result, the global community took notice but failed to take decisive action. China continues to control approximately 70% of rare-earth mining worldwide and 90% of the separation and processing of these minerals.\n\nIn recent times, Beijing pressured Donald Trump to abandon his trade war with China, not through retaliatory tariffs, but by limiting rare-earth exports. This development prompted a global search for alternative sources of these essential materials. The trade truce, which lasted for a year, is set to end in November. Consequently, the price of erbium, a vital component in communications infrastructure, has surged due to concerns that export controls may be reinstated.",
  "summary": "Outsourcing the industry to China cannot continue, but Europe knows it can no longer count on the US for a solution The alarm sounded 16 years ago. In 2010, China blocked exports of key rare earths to Japan in a row over disputed islands in the East China Sea. The critical minerals are essential to everything from advanced weaponry and iPhones to electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines, so…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "The Guardian view on rare earths: it’s common sense to secure essential supply chains | Editorial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/the-guardian-view-on-rare-earths-its-common-sense-to-secure-essential",
        "published": "2026-08-30T16:30:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}