Tariffs were meant to punish Chinese exporters and encourage American manufacturing; instead, they have raised prices for US consumers

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said the strategy would help ensure policy and regulatory certainty in the mining sector

China produces more than 95% of the world’s rare earths, and the United States relies on it for upwards of 80% of its imports

Beijing had already dropped a big hint that rare earths could be in the firing line

In a formal complaint to the WTO, the US, EU and Japan have accused Beijing of trying to hold down prices for its domestic manufacturers.

Korea Resources Corporation has reached a definitive agreement to take part in a large-scale rare earth element development project in South Africa.

China will appeal a World Trade Organisation rejection of its curbs on exports of industrial raw materials, the government has said.

China has further tightened its grip on the rare earths market, raising taxes on the minerals vital to high-tech industry.

Malawi’s natural resources minister says Lynas is expected to mine for rare earth elements in the southern African country "as soon as possible".

Africa, Australia and Canada likely hold the key to a geopolitical battle being fought to end China’s stranglehold over obscure elements.