China seized mines and built factories. Japan took note and invested in Australia. But the United States did little despite concerns about control of supplies.

China has managed to hit the U.S. where it hurts the most in response to the Trump administration’s tariffs, with restrictions on global exports of certain rare-earth elements that the U.S. has little ability to produce or refine.

From fighter planes to nuclear reactor rods and smartphones, rare earth minerals are vital to a wide array of products. As geopolitical and trade tensions rise, China’s dominance of both mining and processing means these niche metals have become a cudgel to use against opponents.