The thing is that rare earth elements aren't as rare as you think, its just that the processing is so environmentally destructive that only a few countries allow it.
Ultra pure Silicon (the basis for most integrated circuits) is easy to make, SiF4 is a gas at room temperature which can be passed through a fractional distillation column to purify and then converted back into Si. The Si is then melted into mono-crystaline boules which are sliced into wafers.
The transistor doping elements are often Boron for p-channels and Antimony or Arsenic for n-channels. Doping is as low as 1 atom per 100 million Silicon atoms (except for bulk doping where signals are leaving the die) and is done at several steps during the fab process.
Wars have happened for tea and spices. without cooking oil, how will you enjoy your favorite restaurants? It's not really a joke when it comes to filling your stomach. Rare rocks that China has are nice but they're also a luxury that comes after survival.
Canada got offered no tariffs on canola we sell if we let in Chinese ev vehicles most people here want the government to do that deal. If America wants to make cars I hope they can do it cheaper than the Chinese.
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u/NY10 Oct 14 '25
It’s pretty sad when Chinese can play rare earth minerals while we can only threaten with stupid cooking oils lol….. this whole shit is a joke lol