美国照抄中国作业，特朗普打破40年惯例，为了重振美国稀土拼了

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government has unexpectedly announced a $400 million investment in MP Materials, the largest domestic rare earth company, marking a significant shift from its long-standing free market principles to a more interventionist approach similar to China's industrial policy [1][2]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The U.S. Department of Defense's investment is linked to specific production targets, mirroring China's industrial policy approach [2]. - A clear three-phase strategy has been established: 1. Focus on rare earth resource development with MP Materials at the core 2. Emphasize lithium resource development, targeting companies like Lithium Americas 3. Expand to cobalt, nickel, and other key battery materials [4]. Group 2: Challenges and Limitations - The U.S. faces significant challenges, including lengthy approval processes for new mining projects, averaging 29 years, which hampers timely development [6]. - The U.S. currently processes less than 10% of its rare earth materials domestically, relying heavily on overseas processing, unlike China, which has developed a complete supply chain [6]. - The disparity between policy expectations and actual production capacity is stark, with the U.S. lithium production accounting for only 0.8% of global output and over 80% of rare earth magnets being imported [8]. Group 3: Comparison with China - The U.S. is attempting to replicate China's successful model of resource development and supply chain integration, but struggles with inefficiencies and institutional challenges [10]. - While the U.S. has adopted the form of government investment, it has not fully grasped the essence of coordinated institutional support that characterizes China's approach [8][10].