Foreign media: China's restriction on rare earth exports hits the U.S. hard. According to a report from the U.S. Geological Survey, from 2020 to 2023, approximately 70% of the U.S. imports of rare earth compounds and metals depended on China. This means that China's latest export restrictions are very likely to have a heavy impact on the U.S. Heavy rare earths are widely used in the military field, including missiles, radar, and permanent magnets. The Center for Strategic and International Studies pointed out that defense technologies such as the F-35 fighter, "Tomahawk" cruise missile, and "Predator" drone all rely on these minerals. The report also added that China is currently expanding its ammunition production scale and acquiring advanced weapon systems and equipment at a rate five to six times faster than the U.S. "The impact on the U.S. defense industry will be huge," noted Clume, director of Ginger International, a French consulting company. However, the impact is not limited to the defense sector. Trump once expressed his hope to revitalize American manufacturing through tariff increases, which will also be severely affected. "For manufacturers, especially those in the defense and high-tech industries, the risks of potential shortages and production delays may arise due to shipping disruptions and limited inventory," said Dr. Harper from the University of Birmingham. He added: "Prices of critical rare earth materials are expected to rise significantly, leading to an immediate increase in component costs for products ranging from smartphones to military hardware, potentially slowing down the production progress of affected enterprises." If China's supply shortage persists in the long term, the U.S. may have to accelerate the diversification of its supply chain and expand its domestic processing capacity. However, this requires "large-scale and sustained investment, technological advancement, and overall costs are expected to be higher than the previous model of relying on Chinese imports." It is obvious that Trump has already considered some things. This week, he ordered an investigation to assess the national security risks posed by the U.S. dependence on these critical minerals. The order states: "President Trump recognizes that excessive reliance on foreign critical minerals and their derivatives may jeopardize America's defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation." "Critical minerals, including rare earth elements, are indispensable for national security and economic resilience." Source: BBC Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829666389334272/ Disclaimer: The article represents only the views of the author.