U.S. Mining Industry Joining Forces to Break Dependence on China
As the U.S. scrambles to secure critical materials for electric vehicles, defense systems, and AI infrastructure, Joshua Ballard—CEO of USA Rare Earth—is emerging as a key voice in the race to end American dependence on China for rare earth magnets.
The Washington Post recently featured Ballard and reported on the growing urgency inside the White House and Pentagon to develop domestic alternatives before Chinese export controls tighten further. Ballard is at the center of that effort. His company is building the nation’s first major rare-earth magnet facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma, a project that could flip the global supply dynamic within two years.
Ballard is available for interviews this week to discuss:
- Why the U.S. is still 100% reliant on Chinese magnet imports—and how that happened.
- What’s being done on the ground to change it, and what obstacles remain.
- Why Oklahoma became the unexpected front line in a geopolitical supply chain war.
- What’s at stake if the U.S. fails to scale domestic production in time.
As Ballard told the Post, “They are absolutely on fire trying to figure this out.” With rare earths becoming the new oil of modern tech, this story is no longer just about economics—it’s about national resilience and industrial sovereignty.
Ballard offers a rare perspective: part manufacturing executive, part geopolitical realist. He can speak plainly about the challenges of rebuilding domestic capacity, navigating federal policy, and why China’s moves are being watched with increasing alarm inside both the private sector and the defense establishment.
If you’re covering the rare earth supply crisis, industrial policy, or U.S.–China strategic competition, Ballard’s voice adds urgency, clarity, and firsthand detail.
To schedule an interview, request a statement, or inquire about op-ed opportunities, please reach out directly.
Relevant Articles:
U.S. races to develop alternatives to China’s rare earth materials
OPTIONAL Q&A:
- What specific steps is USA Rare Earth taking to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese rare earth magnets?
- How soon can your Oklahoma facility realistically begin producing at a scale that impacts the supply chain?
- What are the biggest bottlenecks preventing the U.S. from building a full end-to-end rare earth supply chain?
- How do you see recent Chinese export restrictions shifting urgency in Washington or accelerating investment?
- What role should the federal government play—beyond subsidies—in helping companies like yours compete globally?
- Are allied partnerships with countries like South Korea or Australia enough to bridge the current gap?
- How vulnerable are U.S. defense and EV sectors today if China were to cut off rare earth exports completely?
- Do you believe America can ever fully decouple from China on rare earths, or is strategic coexistence more realistic?
ABOUT JOSHUA BALLARD…
Josh Ballard is CEO of USA Rare Earth. He is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of experience as a senior level finance and operations executive in technology and manufacturing firms in the public, private equity and venture capital sectors both domestically and internationally. He has a proven track record of building and managing diverse teams and tackling growth and turnaround challenges while steering company growth and profitability across industries.
Prior to joining USA Rare Earth in December 2024, he led the financial arm of Energy Recovery Inc (Nasdaq: ERII) as CFO from 2018-2024. In that role, he helped the company increase revenue by nearly 250%, reduce operational expenses from 70% to ~50% of revenue, and shift EBITDA from breakeven to 25-30% margin. During his watch, the market value of the company grew by nearly 400% over 3 years and trading volume increased 5-7x.
In the year prior to joining ERII, Ballard served as Operating Partner for OROX Capital Management, a Dallas-based private equity fund manager focused on providing distressed and growth capital for midcap privately held companies.
Ballard is expert in driving innovation and transforming business models, leveraging deep market insights and a results-oriented approach to deliver sustainable value, optimizing organizational performance and cultivating strong stakeholder relationships.
Contact Information: To schedule an interview with Joshua Ballard, please contact: Bookings@SpecialGuests.com or call 919-437-0001