[Text/Observer Network Liu Qian]
htmlOn January 14, U.S. Republican U.S. anti-China Senator Tom Cotton and Democratic Senator Mark Kelly proposed a bipartisan joint bill requiring US Pentagon contractors to prohibit purchase of Chinese rare earth .According to the U.S. Senate website on the 14th, the bill also includes creating the U.S. own rare earth reserves, disclosing the contractor's rare earth sources, and investigating China's unfair trade behavior. Tom Cotton said it is "critical" to end the U.S. reliance on China in rare earth mining and processing.
Screenshot of the personal official website of US Senator Tom Cotton
Reuters in the UK said on the 15th that the United States currently has only one rare earth mine and does not have the ability to process rare earths. The U.S. rare earth industry generally expressed support for the bill, but is still worried about whether it can truly get rid of dependence.
Reuters exclusive report screenshot
This bill aimed at combating China's rare earth industry is the full name of the "Restoration of Rare Earths onshore Basic Energy and Safety Assets Act" (REEShore). The most important clause is to require contractors of the US Pentagon to stop importing Chinese rare earths by 2026.
To this end, the bill also requires the U.S. Department of Defense and the Interior to establish a strategic reserve of rare earth mines and products by 2025, which must meet the supply of U.S. military, defense, technology and other key areas in a year.
Reuters said that this is essentially using the billions of dollars of fighter jets , rockets and other weapons purchased annually by Pentagon as bargaining chips, forcing contractors such as Lockheed Martin to stop relying on China and instead support the recovery of the US rare earth industry.
Act also proposes that Pentagon contractors should promptly track and disclose the sources of rare earth materials used in the weapons they submitted. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative should submit an investigation report to Congress to explore China's unfair trade behavior in the rare earth market and impose tariff penalties if necessary.
March 18, 2008, rare earth mining in mountainous areas of Yunnan. Pictured from Visual China
As a member of the proposal, Tom Cotton claimed that China has currently "bottled" in the global rare earth supply chain, so ending the United States' dependence on China's rare earth mining and processing industry plays a very critical role in safeguarding national security and winning strategic competition with China.
Tom Cotton is a Republican senator in Arkansas, and is also a "famous" anti-China element who was sanctioned by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
On April 22 last year, he made a shocking statement in an interview with the conservative media of the United States Fox News Network, and claimed that the four mainstream media, such as ABC (ABC), NBC, CBS, and CNN, are weak in their stance towards China, just like China's four major "bodyguards".
Tom Cotton Video screenshot
Another proposal member is Senator Mark Kelly, Democratic Arizona. He claims to be a U.S. Navy veteran who served for 25 years. He believes that this bipartisan joint legislation can reduce their dependence on "adversaries" like China and strengthen the United States' leadership in the global technology field.
U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, who is a member of the proposal, has a "honest desire to serve the country", but the reality is not that good.
Reuters said that the United States currently has only one rare earth mine and does not have the ability to process rare earths. The Pentagon is building what is called a "rare earth strategic reserve", but part of the supply of the reserve is purchased from China. "This is a contradiction that we hope to ease in time," said the U.S. Senate staff.
The American Aviation Industry Association (AIA), which contains numerous important Pentagon contractors, declined to comment on the bill. Most members of the U.S. rare earth industry appreciate the bill, but they also have concerns.
Since the bill does not directly support rare earth miners and processors in the United States, it only requires Pentagon contractors to stop importing Chinese rare earths within 4 years. Therefore, they are concerned that even by 2026, these contractors may still seek exemptions from continuing to purchase Chinese rare earths.
On December 23, China Rare Earth Group Co., Ltd. was officially established. This central enterprise giant formed by China Aluminum Group Co., Ltd. , China Minmetals Group Co., Ltd. , Ganzhou Rare Earth Group Co., Ltd. , and two technology research and development rare earth enterprises marks that my country is making great strides towards creating a world-class rare earth enterprise group with global competitiveness.
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