Strategic Minerals Must Come from U.S. Soil, Not Only Chinese Ports
As tensions between the United States and China continue to escalate, one critical vulnerability is being dangerously overlooked: rare earth minerals. These minerals power everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to defense systems and advanced missile guidance — and the U.S. remains heavily dependent on China for the supply chain.
Joshua Ballard, CEO of USA Rare Earth, is available for interviews to explain why America must take urgent steps to mine and process its own rare earths — before it’s too late.
China has already demonstrated its willingness to weaponize rare earth exports in previous trade disputes. If geopolitical hostilities continue to grow, the U.S. could find itself cut off from materials essential to national security, clean energy, and technological dominance. This isn’t a matter of if — it’s a matter of when.
Ballard can break down the current state of global rare earth supply chains, what it would take for the U.S. to secure its own, and why policymakers and the public need to pay attention now. With access to domestic mines and processing technology, USA Rare Earth is uniquely positioned to explain how the U.S. can lead in resource independence.
This isn’t just an economic issue — it’s a national security imperative. The U.S. cannot afford to let rare earth minerals become another casualty in its economic and strategic rivalry with Beijing.
If your outlet is covering energy policy, military readiness, or supply chain risk, Ballard brings a clear, compelling, and deeply informed voice to the conversation. 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
China’s rare earth export controls are good for Beijing, bad for business | Reuters
China’s weaponisation of rare earths is a new kind of trade war
OPTIONAL Q&A:
- Why is the U.S. still dependent on China for rare earth minerals in 2025?
- What specific risks does this dependency pose to national security and military readiness?
- How easily could China weaponize its control over the rare earth supply chain?
- What would happen if China cut off exports of rare earths tomorrow?
- What steps must the U.S. take to build a self-sufficient rare earth industry?
- How is USA Rare Earth positioned to fill the gap in domestic production?
- Why hasn’t the U.S. government prioritized rare earth independence more aggressively until now?
- What’s the economic and strategic cost of continuing to outsource critical mineral supply chains?
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
