美媒：想要跟中国竞争稀土，我们得搞定官僚习气

Core Viewpoint - The article argues that China's dominance in the rare earth sector is largely a result of bureaucratic inefficiencies in the U.S., and it emphasizes the urgent need for the U.S. to reform its approval processes to achieve self-sufficiency in rare earth production [1]. Group 1: China's Dominance - China controls over 90% of global rare earth processing capacity, having maintained a dominant position for decades while U.S. producers and policymakers have been negligent [1]. - The article highlights that China's recent export controls on critical minerals essential for U.S. defense systems demonstrate Beijing's leverage over U.S. defense production [1]. Group 2: Regulatory Challenges - The article identifies regulatory uncertainty, particularly under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as a significant barrier to U.S. rare earth production, with environmental impact assessments often taking over two years [2]. - It notes that the lengthy and unpredictable regulatory processes can deter investment and delay the establishment of processing capabilities in the U.S. [2][5]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - The article discusses the strategic vulnerabilities that arise from the U.S. reliance on China for rare earth processing, particularly in the context of potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region [4]. - It emphasizes that the ability to maintain supply chains for defense systems is crucial, as the capacity to replace and sustain these systems over time is more critical than initial technological superiority [4]. Group 4: Recommendations for Improvement - The article suggests that predictable regulatory processes are essential for companies to invest in rare earth processing facilities, recommending simultaneous environmental assessments by federal, state, and local agencies [5]. - It advocates for legislative measures to ensure that projects are not subject to re-evaluation with changes in government, thereby stabilizing the policy environment for rare earth production [5]. Group 5: Investment and Economic Considerations - The article points out that significant upfront investments in rare earth processing facilities require assurance of sustained demand and stable prices for critical minerals [6]. - It calls for the U.S. Department of Defense to implement long-term procurement plans that include critical minerals in national defense reserves to encourage investment [6]. Group 6: Historical Context and Long-term Strategy - The article notes that the U.S. has transitioned from self-sufficiency in rare earths to complete reliance on imports over the past 15 years, highlighting a long-standing concern that transcends political administrations [7]. - It emphasizes that the U.S. has made some progress in strengthening rare earth supply chains, but the complexity of rebuilding the entire ecosystem from mining to processing remains a significant challenge [7][8]. Group 7: Comparative Analysis - The article compares the U.S. mining and processing timelines unfavorably with countries like Canada and Australia, where permitting processes are significantly shorter, contributing to the U.S.'s increasing import dependency [10]. - It highlights that the average time for U.S. mining projects to go from exploration to production is around 29 years, which is among the slowest globally [8][10].