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The One Rule That Created the Global Rare Earth Trade
Description
Episode 94 of Global Trade with Fexingo dissects the single trade rule that transformed rare earth elements from obscure chemical curiosities into the strategic backbone of modern electronics, magnets, and defense systems. Hosts Lucas and Luna trace the 1990s-era WTO ruling that forced China to open its rare earth supply chain, the subsequent market dominance, and the current scramble for alternative sources. They focus on China's 2010 export quota dispute that sent prices soaring 1,200 percent in months, the WTO's 2014 compliance ruling, and how Australia's Lynas Rare Earths became the world's largest non-Chinese processor. The episode ends with a look at the 2026 policy landscape, including the US Defense Production Act investments and the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act. Specific numbers include China's 90 percent market share in permanent magnets and the $20 billion global rare earth magnet market projected for 2027.