China entered the rare earth market a few decades later than the western world, however, it soon caught up and took over majority of the supply chain. Despite the tension between U.S. and China, U.S. rare earth companies are still dependent on products mined and produced in China. Why can’t U.S. fulfill the rare earth demands domestically? James Kennedy, President of ThREE Consulting, has an answer. Mr. Kennedy has worked with the Pentagon for 12 years and is currently working with members of the congress on a bipartisan solution to the rare earth crisis.