We used to have several companies in the US that mined and refined the materials. They shut down because they couldn't compete with China, but if supply became constrained over a long period of time they could restart operations.
It's one reason the Chinese threats of cutting off rare earths is not quite as scary as the media makes it out to be. They can't do it for too long before alternatives get spun up and they lose their leverage entirely.
It's one reason the Chinese threats of cutting off rare earths is not quite as scary as the media makes it out to be. They can't do it for too long before alternatives get spun up and they lose their leverage entirely.