Cotton-Kelly Bill To Reduce Dependence On Chinese Rare Earths

A bipartisan bill by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AK) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) which seeks to counter US reliance on China for rare earth minerals and stimulate domestic investment in the rare earth sector is awaiting Congressional markup.

The bill would:

• Create a Strategic Reserve of Rare-Earth Elements
• Require Country of Origin Disclosure
• Restrict Use of Chinese Rare-Earth Metals in Advanced Defense Technology
• Investigate China’s Unfair Trade Practices

Cotton said: 'The Chinese Communist Party has a chokehold on global rare-earth element supplies, which are used in everything from batteries to fighter jets. Ending America’s dependence on the CCP for extraction and processing of these elements is critical to winning the strategic competition against China and protecting our national security'.