特朗普签下85亿大单，一年后稀土多到用不完？没中国技术难成事

Core Viewpoint - The recent agreement between Trump and Australian Prime Minister Albanese aims to counter China's dominance in the rare earth sector, involving an investment of $8.5 billion in key mineral extraction projects [1][4]. Group 1: Agreement Details - The agreement includes a $1 billion investment from both the U.S. and Australia in rare earth projects over the next six months [1]. - Plans to construct an advanced gallium refining plant in Western Australia with an annual production capacity of 100 tons are part of the deal [1]. - Approximately $2.2 billion in financing will be provided through the Export-Import Bank [1]. Group 2: Challenges in the Rare Earth Sector - Despite the ambitious plans, the U.S. faces significant challenges in disrupting China's established dominance in the rare earth industry, which controls over 85% of global refining and separation capacity [4][11]. - The U.S. once held 90% of the global rare earth supply in the 1980s, but policies led to a decline in its domestic industry, resulting in a fragmented supply chain [4][6]. - Current U.S. efforts to rebuild the rare earth supply chain have not yielded successful projects, with the Mountain Pass mine still relying on China for refining [6][9]. Group 3: Historical Context and Economic Factors - Previous attempts to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earths, such as the "Rare Earth and Critical Materials Revitalization Act" initiated by Obama, have not succeeded due to high production costs in the U.S. [9][11]. - U.S. rare earth production costs are reportedly 50% higher than those in China, impacting competitiveness [11]. - The systemic challenges in the U.S. rare earth supply chain reflect broader issues within American manufacturing, where high costs hinder domestic production [9][11].