A global search is accelerating for new sources of rare earth elements—the metals or minerals vital to a wide range of commercial and industrial products, as well as computers, batteries, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. But for Europe and the United States, that pursuit is complicated because both depend heavily on China to access these elements essential to technological progress and combating climate change.
No rare earth is yet extracted in either Europe or the US. Paradoxically, both are considering negotiations on potential transatlantic trade arrangements in rare earths and even…
