Here’s the thing about building an “America First” supply chain for rare earth minerals: sometimes the fastest customer is on the other side of the Pacific.
Miners backed by the Trump administration are selling rare earth exports to Japan and South Korea, even as Washington continues to champion domestic production as a national security priority.
## What’s actually happening
The backstory starts in April 2025, when China imposed export restrictions on rare earth elements, squeezing two of America’s closest Asian allies. Japan and South Korea, both heavily dependent on Chinese-sourced rare earths for electronics and automotive manufacturing, suddenly needed alternative suppliers fast.
Washington has moved aggressively on the investment side. In January 2026, USA Rare Earth received a $1.6 billion government investment aimed at expanding domestic capacity across the full production chain, from mining to magnet manufacturing.
