美国商务部长：美国发明了稀土，但是中国半价售卖，让我们没钱赚

Core Insights - The U.S. is striving to restore its foundational industries that have been impacted by China's rise, particularly in the rare earth and magnetic materials sectors [1] - The U.S. must regain control over core industries, focusing on self-reliance in advanced semiconductor manufacturing and rebuilding resource supply chains to ensure national security and economic stability [1] Rare Earth Industry Challenges - The U.S. has lost control over rare earth refining and high-end applications, with China holding approximately 90% of global rare earth purification patents [4] - China's "cascade extraction technology" achieves ultra-high purity separation of rare earth elements at a significantly lower cost of $7 per kilogram, giving it a competitive edge in both domestic and international markets [4] - U.S. company MP Materials has a purification level of only about 99.5%, with some heavy rare earths failing to meet military standards, while high radioactive waste disposal costs consume 40% of its revenue [4] Historical Context - The U.S. once led the rare earth industry but shifted operations to China in the 1980s due to lower labor costs and favorable conditions for industrial transfer [5] - This strategic choice has resulted in the U.S. retaining only the mining segment while ceding refining and metallurgy to China [5] Sustainability and Technological Advancements - As rare earth resources are deemed non-renewable, sustainable development increasingly relies on green recycling technologies, where China is at the forefront [7] - A recent technology assessment in China confirmed advancements in green biological recycling of rare earth materials, which could be industrially scaled [7] U.S. Policy Responses - In response to China's dominance, the U.S. military plans to invest in domestic rare earth refining facilities to secure long-term supplies for military and electronic industries [7] - Despite these efforts, the U.S. faces significant challenges in quickly rebuilding a complete supply chain, as China remains the only country with refining capabilities for all 17 critical rare earth materials [7] Industry Perspectives - Industry insiders acknowledge that revitalizing the U.S. rare earth industry requires substantial funding, government support, and the integration of top-tier resources [9] - The U.S. rare earth supply chain has significant gaps, and recent export controls from China have already impacted U.S. automotive and military sectors [9] Key Obstacles - The U.S. faces three main disadvantages in rebuilding its rare earth industry: relinquishing refining to China, limited domestic rare earth reserves, and a lack of high-level refining capabilities [11] - These challenges indicate that the U.S. will need to undergo a lengthy and difficult process to reduce dependence on China and restore a complete supply chain [11]