The American Rare Earths Company Seeks to Challenge China’s Dominance | 60 Minutes
In a gripping episode of “60 Minutes,” the focus turns to America’s strategic effort to reclaim its position in the global supply chain of rare earth elements, essential metals that power everything from smartphones to advanced military technology. This initiative, spearheaded by the Trump administration in collaboration with a U.S. company, seeks to reduce dependency on China, the current leader in rare earth production.
These rare earth elements are critical for the construction of electronics, robotics, and defense equipment like fighter jets and drones. With increasing geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities, the urgency to develop domestic sources has never been more apparent.
“60 Minutes,” a revered institution since its debut in 1968, continues its legacy of delivering in-depth investigative journalism. The program has captivated audiences for over 50 seasons, consistently ranking among Nielsen’s Top 10 broadcasts. Tune in to explore how an American company is stepping up to make a significant impact in the rare earth industry and what it means for the future of U.S. technological independence.
For more insights and to keep updated with “60 Minutes,” subscribe to their YouTube channel and follow them across social media platforms. Discover the compelling stories behind the headlines with this iconic series.
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Video “The American rare earths company seeking to topple China's dominance | 60 Minutes” was uploaded on 03/23/2026 to Youtube Channel 60 Minutes



































Daniel 2 : 44. Mathew 6 : 9, 10. Psalms 37
If China was dumping it cheap, perhaps the US government should have been buying a stockpile of it, like we do the SPR.
Wait, billionaires creating 700 jobs and Orangeman securing and negotiating American independence? This is bad news, rich men and Orangeman are bad for the USA, no kings and no rich ppl allowed!
So this IS indeed socialism
If they are so critical and strategic resources, why do we let the private company fail? This is where the government needs to step in and say here is the money, produce them. That is exactly what China government is doing. Most of their railways are not making money, but they keep it going because of the bigger economic benefits.
I'm glad 60 minutes is opening their eyes to this problem. I find it infuriating to listen to them pretend this isn't an issue of bad government, and environmental groups blocking mines though. In Wisconsin, where I live, almost EVERY mine is blocked by the allies of 60 minutes on the left. They protect the Earth here, while China just lays waste to the environment with NO regard to pollution at all. Meanwhile, we've now become dependent on the Chinese, our greatest adversary, because of the radical left, and HORRIBLE government policy with regard to China for the last 40 years. China isn't our friend. We should have massive tariffs on them. We shouldn't be trading with them in big numbers. We just arm a government that aims to destroy us. We shouldn't be reliant on them for ANYTHING. Any government policy that runs contrary to that is self-destructive. Bottom line though, the left, with 60 minutes as its ally, has been an enemy of American mining for the last 30 years at least. It has resulted us being GREATLY weakened, and it makes no sense. We still mine these minerals as a world, and just because it's not here, doesn't mean it's not happening. Us buying it from the Chinese and shipping it across the world only INCREASES pollution. Let's mine it here, sensibly, and as cleanly as possible, and let's not rely on our greatest adversary in the world, to supply us with what we need to defend ourselves. Duh. If we enter a world war with China, and they control what we need to build fighter jets, we WILL lose. We will die in big numbers. That's stupid.
Why does the US do ANY trade with a country like China that openly manipulates markets and puts US companies at an artificial disadvantage? It makes no sense. China isn't playing fairly. They haven't ever played fairly. We've known this for at least 30 years, and yet we still let them undermine our companies, and weaken us. Why?! Cut off ALL trade with China.
Once the US kickstarts this industry and it's fully functional, we sure as hell better ban rare earth imports from China, and put massive tariffs on any good that uses rare earths from China. If they're going to cheat and subsidize rare earths, we have to make it INCREDIBLY costly for any Chinese good to enter the US that contains their subsidized products.
Sleeping dragons that we woke up an they bit us in the arse. First, uranium, then lead, then DDT , chlorofluorocarbons, micro plastic. The next sleeping dragon we are stabbing with a stick? Lithium
Rosenthal 🤔🤔🤔🤔
This is the normal practice in US, why it become unacceptable when China doing the same same things? We do this base on the national security issues.
I stopped listening when they said we pay and they profit
I’m happy that this admin is serious about filling the gap in our supply chain so foreign governments can’t hold us hostage.
Radioactive water as a result of mining for Rare EARTH Metals + the Trump Administratiin not caring about Environmental Safety = Big Problems to the Environment & Everyone who drinks water near these mines!!!!
CHHHHHHHHHHHHHinamasta
Given that the US is reshoring manufacturing, the health of our workforce is a critical national asset as well. And the "miraculous" free market is also not working in healthcare. Providers and insurers have a massive and permanent information advantage over consumers. Markets cannot work efficiently without reasonable information parity between producers and consumers. It's time for universal healthcare in the US. Your health is your primary asset and the basis for your participation in the economy. "Your-money-or-your-life" pricing and "Let's-see-what-we-can-get-away-with" pricing is not working. USA spends more for worse outcomes vs. other industrialized nations. Forget subsidizing housing, childcare, and education until and unless AI produces some public windfall. Let's end medical bankruptcy and preventable bad health outcomes first. If you're healthy, you can work and pay taxes. The American "f*ck you for being poor" "healthcare" system is a disgrace.
💌 US
But it literally IS socialism. Like its word for word the exact definition of socialism.
So 20 years ago 60 Minutes puts out a urgent show talking about how the US government is asleep at the wheel and not addressing Americ's rare earth reliance on China. Fast forward to today, when we finally have a president that is working to solve the problem, and they're criticizing the structure of the deal. This is liberal hypocrisy at its finest. I'm sure they would have loved the deal structure had Biden been the one structuring the deal creatively.
I agree we should never have stopped digging but this deal just feels strange.
@5:37 that dude is one of the most useless leaches on earth…. This guy is why so many companies that were once good names wind up liquidated. This crap needs to be outlawed.
China owns so much US land you sure that they don’t have the land already
As ex molycorp stock holder, I wish this time will finally work. Crazy it didn't work for molycorp.
Thank Clinton and Dems for handing over American industries to China and other countries through WTO and NAFTA!
I refuse to believe this could not have been planned for. Has everybody been watching Tiktok at work for the last ten years?
Not one mention of what the Biden administration did to fix this. Why, because he was missing in action. We should have had a four year head start on this massive problem. The new 60 minutes looks good. Actual research and reporting. Thank you Barri Weiss.
China wants to use all leverage to gain financial strength over the globe.. no issue to compete but they don't even you step in the field.. reduce China's oil will reduce the machine. I don' wish any harm to China but not sure they feel the same way about us.
American time has gone. Its dominance will never come back again. People think things will come back, fat chance! With a generation morale historic low it will not happen.
Canada has new mining locations.
So selling off American lands to these idiots with out a public input? Yes.
Rare earths are misnamed. They’re not rare, just less red tape needed to get them.
WOW ..The Communist Republic of China is the greatest enemy to all of mankind.
This has been known for a very long time. But everybody wants a new phone for free every other year, so we had to let China do all of this.
China can just dump all the waste in the river and not worry about it.
Flawless
For decades, greedy corporations just disinvested American mining and American manufacturing just to invest offshore manufacturing all because it was cheaper. We actually need to bring back American manufacturing!
"it's a dirty business, it's a risky business, it's a difficult business to really even break even". I get that but sending a dirty business to a largely third world country(China), one who also doesn't care about the filth they pollute the world with when we are supposedly concerned about that makes no sense. We've got really smart people in this country, lets get to work and make it cleaner, less risky and profitable. America has done and can do AMAZING things. Let's stop being so dependent on other countries before it's too late!
The last segment of this clip Should let everyone who freaks out about socialism vs Capitalism in the US know that it’s overall not that important debate to either party. The federal government is staunchly pro capitalist when it suits them/the nation but they can also be pro socialism again when it suits them or the country. It’s never been a %100 one system over the other. Westward Expansion and the building of the transcontinental railroad, our Auto industry, oil & gas, large scale agriculture, banking and finance, aviation and very recently semiconductors have ALL benefited from direct government investment bc it was a clear benefit to the nation. They still benefit from this, regardless of political party or rhetoric. The rare earth resources fight is another prime example. I love that the owner of the rare earth mine pointed that out with perfect examples in US history.
I wish most Americans could understand this.
Yeah, our strategic oil reserves were meant for a time like this… so the oil companies do not drain the life savings from every household in America by doubling the price of fuel without a real shortage in America. As if the American people must pay for the whole world!
Price Gouging is illegal… raising prices during a crises is illegal, immoral, and corrupt!
I think it was a great move, side note, what would foxiness say if Biden had taken part ownership of a private company
The way this guy talks and TV speak he’s beyond annoying