It's not just the actual element itself. You need: - the ore - the ability to refine it, safely (if not in China) and economically to various extents - the supp

It's not just the actual element itself. You need: - the ore - the ability to refine it, safely (if not in China) and economically to various extents - the supply chain to produce the end product (eg a magnet) Then you need this for all the various REEs for the final goods. You don't just build a mine and off you go. The US gave up a lot of strategic supply chains a long time ago.