Bill seeks to end Chinese ‘chokehold’Two U.S. senators have proposed a law aiming to end China’s alleged “chokehold” on rare-earth metal supplies, a statement by the lawmakers said Friday. The law — proposed by Democrat Mark Kelly and Republican Tom Cotton — would aim to ensure the United States can guarantee its supplies of rare-earth minerals. “The Chinese Communist Party has a chokehold on global rare-earth element supplies, which are used in everything from batteries to fighter jets,” Mr. Cotton said in the statement. 80% of the United States’ rare-earth imports in 2019 were from China, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Strategic reserveThe law would require the departments of the Interior and Defense to create a “strategic reserve” of rare earth minerals by 2025.

Source: The Hindu January 15, 2022 23:58 UTC