As China uses its dominance of critical minerals as a geopolitical tool—limiting exports and imposing tariffs—and as demand for these elements in defence and the high-tech sectors grow, there’s a new sense of urgency in the West to break China’s hold.
Ottawa recently joined other G7 leaders in launching a critical minerals action plan, and Prime Minister Mark Carney has noted the important role such minerals play in expanding the country’s defence plan.
But while the United States is implementing plans to quickly unleash its rare earth mineral development, Canada—despite having an estimated four times more rare earth elements —faces different limitations.
