Precious Minerals and U.S. Independence: Breaking China's Grip and Tackling the Fentanyl Crisis

China sends the materials needed to synthesize Fentanyl to Mexico.

Bruce News MA Ed.

CEO - Writer

Critical minerals like lithium, rare earth elements (REEs), cobalt, titanium, and gallium are the backbone of U.S. industries, powering everything from smartphones and electric vehicles (EVs) to fighter jets and renewable energy systems. These minerals touch every American’s daily life—lithium-ion batteries fuel your phone, REEs enable high-tech medical equipment, and titanium strengthens aircraft and infrastructure. However, the U.S. relies heavily on China, which dominates global production and processing (70% of rare earths and 90% of their refining), creating vulnerabilities in supply chains and national security. This dependency also ties into a darker issue: China’s role in supplying precursor chemicals for fentanyl, a synthetic opioid driving a deadly crisis in America, claiming over 70,000 overdose deaths in 2023 alone.

President Trump’s recent push for a minerals deal with Ukraine could shift this dynamic. Ukraine holds significant reserves of lithium, titanium, graphite, and potentially REEs, which could reduce U.S. reliance on China. A February 2025 agreement aims to jointly invest in Ukraine’s mineral wealth, creating a reconstruction fund to spur private-sector involvement and modernize infrastructure. This deal could secure alternative supply chains for U.S. industries, ensuring stable access to materials for tech, defense, and clean energy. For everyday Americans, this means more reliable access to affordable electronics, EVs, and medical technologies, plus job creation in domestic mining and processing.

China’s export restrictions on critical minerals, like gallium and graphite in December 2024, were retaliatory moves against U.S. tariffs, which Trump justified partly due to China’s role in fentanyl production. China supplies key precursors for fentanyl, trafficked through Mexico, fueling a crisis that devastates families and communities. By securing minerals from Ukraine and boosting domestic production (via Trump’s March 2025 executive order to streamline mining permits), the U.S. could reduce China’s leverage. This independence would allow tougher trade policies and sanctions against Chinese firms linked to fentanyl without risking supply chain disruptions.

However, challenges remain. Ukraine’s mineral sector needs massive investment, and Russian control over 20% of its deposits complicates extraction. Experts also question the commercial viability of Ukraine’s REEs due to outdated Soviet-era surveys. Still, if successful, this deal could weaken China’s grip, stabilize U.S. industries, and empower a stronger stance against the fentanyl trade, potentially saving countless lives. For Americans, it’s a step toward economic resilience and a safer future.

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