>>519830271
The West doesn't have the capacity or technology to refine rare earth minerals.

So much so that Germany is offering high-end industrial secrets in exchange for access to rare earths.

Your rebuttal?

>>519794795
It's absolutely doable, but it'll require quite a few reforms, starting on the academia to train people for the new refining industry, to moving lots of capital from speculation and finances to base industry, to changing environmental dogma to accept some kinda dirty process.