Japan’s Rare Earth ‘Ratchet’: How Decades of Institutional Capacity Shaped the 2026 Minerals Shock
The source argues Japan’s February 2026 deep-sea rare earth breakthrough reflects a decades-long strategy—financing, stockpiles, overseas projects, and processing partnerships—rather than a rapid reaction to January export restrictions. The October 2025 Japan-U.S. Critical Minerals Framework may allow Washington to leverage Japan’s institutional learning curve, a key advantage in a market still dominated by China’s refining capacity.