A nation that surrenders its supply chains, its borders, and its laws is a nation handing its future to its enemies. America must decide—strength through sovereignty, or decline through dependence.
America’s Manhattan Project moment is here: rebuild mine-to-magnet at home or keep renting sovereignty from Beijing. CEO Joshua Ballard of USA Rare Earth lays out China’s magnet chokehold, the U.S. plan (Stillwater, OK + Round Top, TX), and the policies to win—cleaner, faster, American. Sovereignty over dependency. #NextStepsShow
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Peter Vazquez (host): National “Just Because” Day is cute, but today we’re talking survival: America’s rare earth supply chain. Our guest calls this our “Manhattan Project moment.” Welcome Joshua Ballard, CEO, USA Rare Earth.
Joshua Ballard: USA Rare Earth’s mission is to rebuild a U.S. mine-to-magnet supply chain that vanished over ~40 years. Rare earth metals and rare-earth magnets drive modern life—defense systems, vehicles (EV and ICE), drones, phones, speakers, power tools—anywhere electricity becomes motion.
China’s chokehold: ~60% of mining, 90%+ of processing, metals/alloys, and magnet production—now wielded via export controls. Even major manufacturers have warned of shortages.
Market & policy context: Interest in U.S. suppliers is surging as Washington considers tariffs, price supports, stockpiles, and incentives. Investors see both patriotism and upside. “This industry will be rebuilt.”
Why not rely on Ukraine? Potential exists, but rare earths there are limited and some deposits are in Russian-controlled areas. That’s decades away. The U.S. must build at home and with close allies (Australia, Brazil, Canada, SE Asia).
USA Rare Earth plan:
- Stillwater, OK: Large magnet plant coming online early next year; metals/alloys to follow within ~12–18 months.
- Round Top Mountain (TX): U.S. heavy rare earths to help feed the line.
- Goal: Full mine → oxides → metals → alloys → magnets in the U.S.
Environment vs. reality: Mining is not fracking. Typical rare-earth flow: open-pit rock, lined leach pads, enclosed chemical processing with water/acid recycling and dust control. Done here, it’s cleaner than China, and it underpins “green” tech itself.
Policy to win: Level the field against a subsidized Chinese competitor: targeted tariffs, price floors, federal offtake/stockpiles, Buy-American incentives, tax credits. Don’t smother with red tape—enable it.
Peter (monologue): “A nation that surrenders its supply chains, borders, and laws hands its future to enemies. Choose sovereignty or dependency.”
CTA: Website: USARE.com. Publicly traded; follow build-out and investment news.
