Mining Forum: US needs Canada to break China’s minerals grip
Former U.S. sanctions official Edward Fishman told the Mining Forum Americas in Colorado Springs that Washington’s hostility towards Canada threatens its effort to reduce dependence on Chinese minerals. He said the United States has the money and political will to invest in mineral supplies but needs Canadian and Australian mining expertise to develop them. China accounted for 91% of global refined rare earth output in 2024, compared with 60% of mined production, according to the International Energy Agency.
Why it matters: The warning highlights the critical minerals theme, showing that US efforts to counter China’s processing dominance are constrained by its own trade disputes with allied suppliers such as Canada.