美国急需稀土，无视中国禁令，买通两个国家，4个月走私4000吨！

Core Insights - The importance of rare earth resources has significantly increased globally, particularly in high-tech and military applications, with China being the largest producer and tightening export controls, impacting the global market, especially the U.S. [1][3] Group 1: U.S. Dependency on Rare Earths - The U.S. recognizes the irreplaceable role of rare earth elements like neodymium, dysprosium, and terbium in its industrial and military production, with significant quantities required for advanced military equipment such as the F-35 fighter jet and nuclear submarines [3][5] - In 2024, the U.S. resorted to smuggling rare earths through countries like Thailand and Mexico, with 4,000 tons smuggled, which is 35 times the import volume of the past three years, highlighting the deep dependency on these resources [5][8] Group 2: China's Response to Smuggling - China has implemented strict measures against U.S. smuggling activities, enhancing customs monitoring and introducing advanced scanning technology to detect illegal shipments [9] - The new Mineral Resources Law, effective July 2025, imposes severe penalties for rare earth smuggling, including up to 10 years of imprisonment and fines up to five times the illegal gains [9] Group 3: Global Supply Chain Implications - The smuggling actions and China's countermeasures reflect the fragility of the global supply chain in the face of resource control, emphasizing the high dependency of U.S. industries on Chinese rare earths [8][11] - The competition for rare earth resources is becoming a focal point in international relations, with countries likely to increase their own resource development and research into alternatives to avoid reliance on illegal channels [15][17]