Rare Earths are Actually Common, but their Extraction is Hard and Costly and Hazardous

China slams Trump’s 100 percent tariff threat, defends rare earth curbs.

China, unlike USA is ready, willing, and able to extract rare earths from their ore, which is very common and not rare at all.

We have plenty of the ore, but not the ability, will, or assets to refine it into metals.