Critical minerals are starting to be wielded as a geopolitical weapon.  

The Trump administration's ramping up pressure on allies to strike a deal in order to shore up US supply.  

Talks with New Zealand officials are said to have been picking up steam.  

US Critical Materials Executive Director Harvey Kaye told Ryan Bridge the US is aware of China's dominance in this space, and won't accept it. 

He says innovation in every area of human development from medicine to defence to AI, is dependent on having a ready supply of rare earth. 

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