稀土战争，美国玩了十五年却还在“新手村”

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. has been unable to break its dependence on rare earth elements despite 15 years of efforts and significant investments, with recent agreements appearing more political than substantive [1][8][20]. Group 1: U.S. Rare Earth Strategy - The Trump administration's approach to rare earths resembles a global shopping spree, with claims of securing vast resources that are often exaggerated or unfounded [3][4]. - Recent agreements with Southeast Asian countries, while seemingly promising, lack specific details and are unlikely to meet U.S. demand due to export restrictions [5][6]. - The U.S. has made some progress, notably with the reopening of the Mountain Pass mine, which is now the only large-scale rare earth mine in the U.S. [12]. Group 2: Historical Context - The U.S. has been aware of its reliance on imported rare earths since 2010, leading to various legislative efforts aimed at securing supply chains [8][9]. - The Biden administration has continued the previous administration's focus on rare earths, indicating a bipartisan commitment to this issue [9]. Group 3: Achievements and Challenges - The U.S. has seen a significant increase in employment in the rare earth sector, with job numbers rising 26 times from 2010 to 2023 [12]. - Despite some achievements, the U.S. remains significantly behind China in technology, talent, and regulatory efficiency, which hampers its ability to establish a competitive rare earth supply chain [15][16][20]. Group 4: Systemic Issues - The small scale of the rare earth industry in the U.S. limits private sector investment, as the market does not generate sufficient economic returns [20][21]. - The U.S. government has had to intervene directly in the rare earth market, exemplified by the Defense Department's investment in the Mountain Pass mine [23][24]. - The systemic issues in the U.S. mining sector, including lengthy permitting processes and high litigation rates, further complicate efforts to establish a robust rare earth supply chain [16][17][20].