Did You Know?

• China controls roughly 85–90% of the world’s rare earth element processing, materials that are essential for U.S. military systems including fighter jets, missile guidance systems, radar, night-vision equipment, and secure communications.
• China is one of the largest buyers of U.S. soybeans, leaving American farmers vulnerable to trade disruptions, market manipulation, and geopolitical tensions that can directly impact crop prices and rural economies.
• U.S. cement production declined by 4% in 2024, while imports accounted for 22% of all cement used nationwide, increasing America’s reliance on foreign suppliers for a critical infrastructure material.
• American farmers depend on imported fertilizers and agricultural inputs, leaving domestic food production exposed to global supply disruptions and price volatility.
• Outdated permitting and regulatory delays can take 7–10 years or longer to approve new domestic mining, energy, or infrastructure projects—pushing investment and production overseas instead of creating jobs at home.
• The U.S. has lost millions of manufacturing jobs over the past several decades, weakening supply chains for steel, semiconductors, construction materials, and essential industrial components.
• Foreign adversaries control large portions of global processing capacity for materials essential to infrastructure, energy systems, and national defense—giving them leverage over American markets.
• Supply chain disruptions raise costs for American families, increasing prices for food, housing, fuel, and everyday goods when domestic production is constrained.