US Vice President Proposes Critical Mineral Trading Bloc to Counter China's Dominance
The US is taking a step towards creating its own critical mineral trading bloc, with the aim of loosening China's stranglehold on rare earth mineral manufacturing. According to Vice President JD Vance, the proposed bloc would allow countries to form alliances and ensure American access to critical minerals, which are essential for industries such as electric vehicles, semiconductors, and defense systems.
The move comes after a year-long trade war that exposed the dependence of most countries on China's critical mineral production. The US is currently at just 12% of global mining, leaving a significant gap to close. To address this, President Trump met with leaders from Ukraine, Australia, Japan, and Central and Southeast Asian countries in 2025 to negotiate trade deals aimed at securing access to rare earths.
Vance's announcement was made during a meeting of foreign ministers at the US State Department, where he emphasized the importance of self-reliance in critical minerals for American industries. He also proposed a pricing floor system that would help unlock private investment in mining and processing projects, which have struggled to compete with cheaper Chinese supply.
The approach could reshape global supply chains, but it's likely to raise costs for manufacturers in the short term and escalate trade tensions with Beijing. China has maintained 70% of the world's rare earth mining and has been using its leverage to influence global industrial policies.
The US push to work with partners to counter China's dominance is part of a broader effort to reassert American leadership in critical minerals. The move comes as tensions between the US and allies are high, following President Trump's unsolicited attempts to acquire Greenland from Denmark.
The proposal has been met with skepticism by some analysts, who point out that it may not be enough to overcome China's dominance in the sector. However, for the US, the plan represents a step towards securing access to critical minerals and ensuring American industries' long-term competitiveness.
As one analyst noted, "We want members to form a trading bloc among allies and partners, one that guarantees American access to American industrial might while also expanding production across the entire zone." The proposal is part of a broader effort to build a more diversified and resilient global supply chain.
The US is taking a step towards creating its own critical mineral trading bloc, with the aim of loosening China's stranglehold on rare earth mineral manufacturing. According to Vice President JD Vance, the proposed bloc would allow countries to form alliances and ensure American access to critical minerals, which are essential for industries such as electric vehicles, semiconductors, and defense systems.
The move comes after a year-long trade war that exposed the dependence of most countries on China's critical mineral production. The US is currently at just 12% of global mining, leaving a significant gap to close. To address this, President Trump met with leaders from Ukraine, Australia, Japan, and Central and Southeast Asian countries in 2025 to negotiate trade deals aimed at securing access to rare earths.
Vance's announcement was made during a meeting of foreign ministers at the US State Department, where he emphasized the importance of self-reliance in critical minerals for American industries. He also proposed a pricing floor system that would help unlock private investment in mining and processing projects, which have struggled to compete with cheaper Chinese supply.
The approach could reshape global supply chains, but it's likely to raise costs for manufacturers in the short term and escalate trade tensions with Beijing. China has maintained 70% of the world's rare earth mining and has been using its leverage to influence global industrial policies.
The US push to work with partners to counter China's dominance is part of a broader effort to reassert American leadership in critical minerals. The move comes as tensions between the US and allies are high, following President Trump's unsolicited attempts to acquire Greenland from Denmark.
The proposal has been met with skepticism by some analysts, who point out that it may not be enough to overcome China's dominance in the sector. However, for the US, the plan represents a step towards securing access to critical minerals and ensuring American industries' long-term competitiveness.
As one analyst noted, "We want members to form a trading bloc among allies and partners, one that guarantees American access to American industrial might while also expanding production across the entire zone." The proposal is part of a broader effort to build a more diversified and resilient global supply chain.
US is taking back its power lol china had us all strung out with their rare earth minerals & we were like "what's our move?" 
but now VP JD Vance is on the case & it's like "we gotchu, america" 
his proposal for a critical mineral trading bloc is gonna shake things up big time! 
12% of global mining tho... that's just embarrassing 
but seriously, this is a step in the right direction towards self-reliance & securing our industries' futures. pricing floor system? yes please! 
it might cost some manufacturers more upfront, but think of all the $$ they'll save in the long run 
& who cares if china gets a little mad 
we're America! we can handle it 
but honestly, I think it's kinda late to the party China has been dominating this space for ages 
and now they're trying to make us pay more for it? that doesn't seem super smart to me 
... remember when we used to think it was cool to have all our tech gadgets made in America? 
Now, China's got us beat in every critical mineral department. I mean, 70% of the world's rare earth mining? That's like someone having control over 70% of the internet's backbone 
.
Now, we're stuck with... well, let's just say not-so-kingly smartphones 
.
. I mean, 70% of rare earth mining? That's wild. But what really gets me thinking here is that this whole thing is kinda like when you're trying to grow your own garden, but someone else keeps stealing all the seeds 
. You gotta find ways to protect yourself and create your own security.
. But at the same time, you have to be careful not to escalate things too much, or you'll end up with everyone dug in their heels and not moving forward 
.
. But ultimately, having a plan and being proactive can be a major game-changer 
.
. but i get why the us wants to create its own bloc - it makes sense to wanna be less dependent on china for all these critical minerals. the pricing floor system is a cool idea tho, might help make the industry more investable and stuff 
. gotta keep an eye on this one 
.
. That's what this trading bloc is all about - finding partners who can share the risk and the reward.
. But if the US can get countries to work together and invest in their own critical minerals, they might just find a way to compete with China on its own terms 
.
We need to diversify our resources ASAP 