Source: NYT > Business (paywall)
The U.S. is backing a tungsten operation in South Korea as a direct countermeasure to Chinese dominance in a mineral essential for advanced weaponry and semiconductors. This reflects how critical mineral supply chains have become a geopolitical flashpoint. It mirrors broader Western efforts to "friendshore" rare earth and specialty metal production, but tungsten's concentrated supply—China controls roughly 80% of global processing—makes this revival economically marginal without long-term offtake guarantees from U.S. defense and tech manufacturers. The mine's viability depends entirely on whether American companies will pay premium prices for Western-sourced tungsten, a commitment that typically requires direct government subsidy or procurement mandates.