Trump Announces Minerals Stockpile Way Too Late for It to Spare Him From Embarrassment by China

The article discusses President Trump's recent announcement to establish a national stockpile of rare earth minerals, a move seen as a response to China's potential restrictions on these critical resources. The timing of this announcement is noted as "too late" to have any significant impact in the ongoing trade war between the US and China. The article highlights how China's control over rare earth mineral exports has previously been used as leverage against the Trump administration, causing embarrassment and highlighting the US's dependence on foreign sources for these vital materials. The decision to build a stockpile is viewed as a belated attempt by the Trump administration to address this vulnerability, but its effectiveness is questioned given the protracted nature of the trade dispute. The article suggests that this announcement may be more about political optics than a timely and effective strategic response to the challenges posed by China's dominance in the rare earth minerals market.