📊Executive Summary

The intensifying US-China trade tensions, particularly regarding rare earth elements (REEs), pose significant risks to various sectors dependent on these materials. China's recent expansion of export controls on REEs, which now includes additional elements and restrictions on refining technologies, threatens supply chains for critical industries, including semiconductors, electric vehicles, and defense. Companies like Nvidia, Intel, and Tesla could face increased costs and production delays. The geopolitical landscape is further complicated by US actions to limit Chinese access to sensitive technologies, suggesting a prolonged period of volatility in sourcing and pricing for these critical materials. Procurement teams should prepare for potential shortages and increased costs in the near future....