China dominates rare earth metal production not because they have a monopoly on extraction technology or deposits, but because rare earth extraction is an extre

China dominates rare earth metal production not because they have a monopoly on extraction technology or deposits, but because rare earth extraction is an extremely polluting process that developed countries no longer do. If China did restrict exports of rare earths, they're just providing an opportunity for mines like Mountain Pass in California to start production again. https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/23/18637071/rare-earth-china-production-america-demand-trade-war-tariffs https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/23/18637071/rare-earth-china...