China has halted exports of several rare earth minerals essential to the U.S. tech, defense, and energy sectors—sending shockwaves through Washington and industry leaders alike.

As of April 3, China officially stopped exporting seven heavy rare earth metals, along with rare earth magnets—resources vital to manufacturing electric vehicles, aircraft components, advanced weaponry, and high-tech electronics. The freeze affects all countries, but it’s the United States that may suffer the most.

Dysprosium and yttrium, two of the restricted elements, are especially critical for U.S. defense and high-tech manufacturing. Drew Horn, who led strategic mineral and energy supply chain efforts under President Trump, said China has long warned about this move. “The Chinese have been threatening this because they do have that leverage to basically cut us off and cut the world off,” he said. “Now they’re doing it.”

This isn’t China’s first threat to weaponize its control of rare earths. Back in 2019, Beijing floated the idea of cutting off American access. This time, it’s not a threat—it’s a reality.

Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, called it a familiar but risky tactic. “Their rare earth play is a card they’ve used before,” Singleton said. “And they overplayed it.”

But this latest move isn’t just about geopolitics. It’s about control. China refines nearly 100% of the six heavy rare earth metals it just restricted and produces 90% of the world’s rare earth magnets. The country announced the new licensing system on April 4, requiring special export permits to ship these materials. However, no clear process for issuing those licenses has been established—leaving international buyers in limbo.

The New York Times reported that industry executives are panicking as supplies run low and China drags its feet. Without access to these crucial minerals, the U.S. could face massive production delays in key sectors—including military readiness.

Breitbart’s John Hayward noted that while China claims it will maintain global supply, it has made it clear U.S. access will be limited or potentially cut off entirely. It’s a pointed message aimed directly at the Biden administration, which has relied heavily on green energy and EV mandates—technologies deeply dependent on Chinese-controlled minerals.

For years, conservative lawmakers have warned about the dangers of outsourcing critical supply chains to hostile nations. Under President Trump, efforts were launched to reshore mining and rare earth processing. But Biden reversed course, allowing green lobbyists and globalist donors to keep the U.S. dependent on China for its most essential materials.

Now, the consequences are real. America’s military supply chain, energy production, and advanced manufacturing base are all exposed—and Beijing knows it.

This crisis underscores what many on the Right have been shouting for years: national security starts with independence. And that includes minerals. As China tightens the noose, it’s time for U.S. leadership to stop gambling with foreign reliance and start rebuilding the foundation of American sovereignty.